SunExpress Germany launches new route from Düsseldorf to Erbil

SunExpress Germany began operating low-frequency services on the route from German Düsseldorf (DUS) to Erbil (ERB) in northern Iraq on 19 November. Erbil, which is sometimes described as ‘New Dubai’, is regarded as the region’s boom town and enjoys strong development based on the region’s substantial oil production of around a quarter of a million barrels a day. This has resulted in the local airport growing by 22% in 2010, 37% in 2011, and 52% in the first four months of 2012, according to an anna.aero analysis. Recent route launches to the Iraqi airport include Air Arabia flights from Sharjah, which was distinguished with the anna.aero Route of the Week prize in October. SunExpress Germany will benefit from these developments, as it now flies a weekly service to Erbil using 737-800 aircraft. Competition on the route comes from two other German carriers, airberlin and Germania, which operate also weekly services each.