The minimum ticket price on a Chandigarh-Dubai flight, including taxes, is Rs 3,700. This fare includes one hand baggage item, weighing up to 10 kg.

“There is a huge Indian expatriate population living in the UAE and an even larger number of people keen to travel to the region for both business and pleasure. Flydubai is committed to making travel between Lucknow, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and the UAE less complex, less stressful and less expensive,” Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of the airline, said.

Talking about the potential for the international airlines in the region, Ghaith said their aim was to stimulate growth in this segment rather than take business away from existing carriers.

The frequency of flights from Chandigarh is yet to be finalised. “The approval for the frequency and schedule of the flight is yet to be received by the airline. They have applied for a daily flight. Once the approval comes, the airline can start its operations,” said Chandigarh Airport Director Sunil Dutt.

Flydubai will begin its Indian operations with a flight from Lucknow on July 13. This will be followed by a flight from Coimbatore on July 14.

The minimum fare on both Lucknow-Dubai (four flights per week) and Coimbatore-Dubai (three flights per week) flights is Rs 4,700.

Flydubai was started by the Government of Dubai in March 2008. The airline made a historic order of 50 Boeing 737-800 at the Farnborough Air Show in July last year.

The first of these aircraft were unveiled in Dubai on May 18 and started flying on June 1. At present, Flydubai flies to Beirut in Lebanon, Amman in Jordan, Damascus in Syria and Alexandria in Egypt.

On June 18, the airline announced Aleppo in Syria as its fifth destination.