UAE-Kazakhstan flights: Flydubai cancels Almaty service after violent protests

Dubai-based low-cost carrier had cancelled flights till January 8

Waheed Abbas

Published: Thu 6 Jan 2022, 10:26 AM

Last updated: Thu 6 Jan 2022, 9:08 PM

Budget carrier flydubai has cancelled flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan till Saturday, January 8, after violent protests rocked the Central Asian country and the government declared a state of emergency in the country’s largest city.

Protests continued across Almaty on Thursday, sparked by a fuel price rise, resulting in the death of eight people earlier this week. Police clashed with the protesters again on Thursday after they tried to storm their offices. A police official said on Thursday that dozens of people were killed in attacks on government buildings.

Kazakhstan president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday accepted the government's resignation after the violent protests.

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A flydubai spokesperson said: “Flydubai flights FZ 737/8 and FZ 1721/2 between Dubai and Almaty have been cancelled until January 8, 2022, due to the situation on the ground in Almaty in Kazakhstan.”

The Dubai-based low-cost carrier had cancelled flights on January 5 and 6 also due to the volatile political situation in the Central Asian country.

The spokesperson said flights to Nur-Sultan are operating and updates will be available on flydubai.com. “We continue to monitor the situation and assess our flying schedule.”

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The UAE Embassy in Kazakhstan on Thursday issued an advisory to its citizens, asking them to avoid public gatherings. The citizens also are requested to contact the emergency number: +97180024.

Kuwaiti budget carrier Jazeera Airways also suspended flights to Almaty on Wednesday. “We will provide an update on our operations when we have further information,” a Jazeera Airways spokesperson said.

-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com