RAWALPINDI: Flyd­ubai commenced operations at Bacha Khan International Airport on Friday, with the arrival of flight FZ-375 from Dubai in the early hours, a spokesman for the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said.

The inaugural flight carried 164 passengers and was welcomed with a celebratory water cannon salute. A cake-cutting ceremony followed, attended by senior officials, including the airport manager and representatives from flydubai.

Later, the inaugural return flight, FZ-375, departed from Peshawar to Dubai at 2:20am on Friday, carrying 185 passengers, the spokesman added.

Earlier this month, flydubai announced it would begin daily service to Peshawar starting May 15. Flights to Bacha Khan International Airport, also known as Peshawar Airp­ort, will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the airline said.

“It will operate a daily service between Dubai and Peshawar, offering customers from the UAE and the region more options for travel,” the carrier said. The airline’s Pakistan network already includes services to Karachi, Faisa­labad, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot.

Flydubai highlighted Pesha­war’s significance, noting its historical importance as one of the oldest cities in South Asia and citing landmarks such as Bala Hisar Fort and the Qissa Khwani Bazaar, once a hub for poets and traders.

Return business class fares from Dubai to Peshawar start from 5,270 AED, while economy class fares begin from 1,300 AED. From Peshawar to Dubai, business class fares start from Rs391,600 and economy class fares begin from Rs104,950.

Manzoor Ali in Peshawar also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2025