Flydubai has inaugurated its new service to Iași, becoming the first UAE-based airline to offer direct flights from Dubai to the Romanian city. The move expands the carrier’s network in Romania to two destinations, alongside Bucharest.
The inaugural flight landed at Iași International Airport (IAS) to a traditional water cannon salute and a warm reception by airport officials, local dignitaries, and media representatives.
Strengthening links with Romania
With the launch, flydubai will operate twice-weekly flights to Iași on Tuesdays and Fridays from Dubai International Airport (DXB). The airline also announced plans to ramp up services to Bucharest, increasing to three daily flights and bringing the total frequency to Romania to 21 flights a week.
Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said Romania remains a “significant market” for the airline.
“Over the last few years, passenger numbers have grown by an average of 16% annually on our route to Bucharest,” Efendi noted. “By introducing Iași as our second destination in Romania, we are confident these enhancements will offer our customers greater convenience and more opportunities to experience the country’s culture and business opportunities.”
Boost for Iași Airport
Romeo Vatră, General Manager of Iași Airport, hailed the launch as a “significant milestone” for the region.
“At present, Iași Airport is the only airport in the Moldova region offering direct connections to the United Arab Emirates,” Vatră said. “We are pleased to welcome flydubai to Iași and look forward to building a valuable partnership that benefits both passengers and the community.”
The addition of Dubai strengthens Iași Airport’s role as an international gateway for northern Romania and Moldova, opening up long-haul travel opportunities for residents.
A cultural capital
Known as Romania’s cultural capital, Iași is home to a wealth of historical and architectural attractions. Highlights include the Palace of Culture, which houses four museums; the Italian Renaissance-style Metropolitan Cathedral; and the Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, Romania’s oldest. The new direct connection is expected to appeal to both leisure and business travellers, as well as members of Romania’s diaspora in the UAE.
Growing European footprint
Flydubai continues to expand its presence across Europe. On 17 September, the airline launched flights to Chișinău in Moldova. Later this year, it will add services to Vilnius in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia.
Flights to Iași are codeshared with Emirates, allowing passengers to access wider connections through Dubai’s global hub.
Return fares from Dubai to Iași start at AED 1,600 for Economy Class Lite and AED 8,000 for Business Class. Fares from Iași to Dubai begin at EUR 380 for Economy and EUR 2,000 for Business.
