Krasnodar International Airport Accepts First Flydubai-operated Flight

Krasnodar, September 23, 2013. Basel Aero, a part of Russia’s industrial diversified group Basic Element announces that flydubai air carrier has performed the first Dubai-Krasnodar flight last weekend, setting up a regular nonstop service between Krasnodar in southern Russia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The first Krasnodar-bound FZ983 aircraft left Terminal 2 of the Dubai International Airport on Friday, September 20 at 11:20 pm and landed in Krasnodar next day at 03:30 am (local time). The aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute when it landed in Krasnodar.

The carrier, flydubai, introduced air service to Russia in October 2010. The first destinations included Samara and Yekaterinburg, Kazan and Ufa were added in 2011. Last spring, flydubai doubled Russia-bound routes. Earlier this year, the flights to Mineralnye Vody and Volgograd have been added to the carrier’s route network with Rostov-on-Don expected to join by November. Krasnodar has become the seventh Russian city in the flydubai’s destination map which covers 65 cities all over the world. With the new nonstop flights, residents of the Krasnodar territory and neighboring regions will make a brief four-hour flight to Dubai where they will enjoy opulent hotels and shopping malls, internationally-renowned restaurants, the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa as well as the best sandy beaches and picturesque deserts.

The air carrier’s destination map includes 65 routes and cover over 30 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Indostan peninsula, Central Asia, Southern and Eastern Europe as well as Russia and Ukraine. In October, flydubai will introduce business class service to Krasnodar and Yekaterinburg-bound flights.

Krasnodar-Dubai flights are performed on Wednesdays at 06:00 am, lands in the UAE at 09:55 am. On Saturday the aircraft departs Krasnodar at 04:30 am and arrives in Dubai at 08:25 am. Dubai-Krasnodar routes are operated on Tuesdays at 00:35 am, land in Krasnodar at 04:45 am. On Fridays Krasnodar-bound planes leave Dubai at 23:20 pm and lands in Kuban at 03:30 am. The price of the Krasnodar-Dubai roundtrip ticket starts at 19,570 rub. ($630). Tickets are available on the flydubai’s official web site www.flydubai.com>.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s executive head, comments: “We are happy to become the first airline of the UAE to operate direct flights to Krasnodar. flydubai continues to expand its destination network, and the introduction of the new Russian route shows a significance of the local market for our company. We hope that the direct connection will boost the tourism from the Middle East countries to the Krasnodar territory, famous for its outstanding resorts and huge business opportunities. Krasnodar is an economically developed city and we expect high demand for business flights. With the implementation of the business class services our passengers will receive a number of the additional options such as the priority check-in, comfortable armchairs, and an access to the on-board entertainment system as well as the wide range of dishes of the world’s cuisine.”

Leonid Sergeev, Basel Aero CEO, says: “We are happy to welcome flydubai in the Krasnodar International Airport. Introduction of the direct flights to Dubai will help to connect Krasnodar with the largest Middle East air hub that links over 200 destinations all over the world, from Australia to South America. The agreement with the top carrier is a result of a tremendous work of Basel Aero and Changi aimed at attracting new airlines  as well as the high standards of the Krasnodar region’s airports. We hope that the residents of the Krasnodar territory will use this opportunity and the cooperation with the flydubai will positively affect our airport’s development.”

Notes to editors

About flydubai

flydubai (www.flydubai.com>) was founded in 2008.  Since its first flight in 2009, flydubai has built up a destination network of 65 cities with 15 of them have joined since January 2013, introduced flights to 46 cities that have not previously had a direct connection with Dubai or have not been operated by the Dubai-based UAE carriers. flydubai currently has a fleet of more than 31 brand new Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft and expects to add additional planes by 2016. flydubai makes a significant contribution to the Dubai’s economic development and assists in implementing Dubai government’s strategy through attracting additional passenger flow from the regions, which lack air services.

About Basel Aero

Basel Aero (www.basel.aero>), founded in 2007, manages the airport assets of the group "Basic Element".  Since June 2012, it is a joint venture that comprises of "Basic Element", OJSC "Sberbank of Russia" and Changi Airports International (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changi Airport Group).  The "Basel Aero" includes airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, Gelendzhik and Anapa. Airports serving more than 7% of the total passenger traffic in Russia and about 1.5% of the total cargo traffic. One of the major projects of Basel Aero is preparing International Airport for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. In January-July 2013 Basel Aero airports served 4.2 mln passengers,11% more than in the same period in 2012. The development strategy of Basel Aero includes improving operational efficiency of assets and geographic expansion of the business.

About Basic Element

Basic Element (www.basel.ru>) is one of the Russia's largest and most dynamic diversified industrial groups. Basic Element's companies are controlled by or are within the scope of business interests of Oleg Deripaska, one of major Russian businessmen. Basic Element through its affiliates owns significant stakes in and operates a number of companies in many segments: Energy, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Construction, Aviation, Agriculture and others. Over 250,000 people work at more than 100 of Group's companies in Russia, the CIS, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Many of them play key roles in their respective market segments in Russia and internationally, including En+ Group, GAZ Group, Glavstroy, Basel Aero and others.