Dubai: Emirates Airlines has unveiled new expansion plans for Eastern Europe with the launch of daily services to Kyiv Boryspil International Airport in Kiev from January 16th, 2014, marking its first route to the Ukraine.
Offering a daily operation with an Airbus A340-500, the new flight will provide convenient global connections, via Dubai, to the country’s population of 45 million, further enhancing the nation’s burgeoning economy.
With a booming agricultural sector, the Ukraine is currently the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil and a major global producer of grain and sugar.
“We see strong potential in the Ukraine through its agri-business, heavy machinery industries, technology, and tourism. Kiev will be our 35th passenger route in Europe and Emirates’ customers in the Ukraine will be able to fly non-stop to our Dubai hub, conveniently connecting onwards to destinations in the Indian Ocean Islands and Asia, in addition to our extensive Australian network courtesy of our partnership with Qantas,” said Hubert Frach, Divisional Senior Vice-President Commercial Operations — West.
“We expect Dubai to be a popular choice for our customers in the Ukraine, facilitating new business opportunities as well as offering leisure travellers world-class accommodation and entertainment options,” added Frach.
Ukraine’s GDP growth is expected to show steady momentum for the next three years as a result of increasing consumer confidence and increased demand for raw building materials, such as steel.
Emirates’ launch of Kiev will follow the launch of Stockholm on 4th September, Clark in the Philippines on 1st October, and the Trans-Atlantic service from Milan to New York, also commencing on October 1st.
In Africa, Emirates will expand its Dakar operation with a linked service to Conakry in Guinea from 27th October 2013.
