UAE: Flydubai To Commence Direct Flights To Helsinki From 11 October 2018

Flydubai has announced the launch of direct flights to Helsinki.

The daily service will start from 11 October 2018. Flydubai becomes the first airline to offer a year-round service between Dubai and Helsinki.

The carrier will operate the new route on its brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with flat-bed in Business Class and enhanced Economy Class offering.

The Helsinki route will be code shared with Emirates as part of the Emirates’ and Flydubai’s partnership.

Dubai airlines reveal strong passenger numbers for first six months of tie-up.

Emirates and flydubai revealed on Monday strong passenger numbers for the first six months of their partnership.

The first codeshare flights began at the end of October and between November 2017 and this March, over 400,000 passengers have taken advantage of the partnership and more than 250,000 passengers have already planned their trip for the year ahead, a statement said.

The partnership initially began with codeshare flights to 29 cities, and this has since expanded to meet growing demand.

Emirates currently flies to 141 passenger destinations.

Last year, the airline launched new passenger routes to Newark via Athens, Zagreb and Phnom Penh, and later this year, Emirates will begin services to London Stansted and Santiago de Chile.

flydubai currently flies to a total of 97 destinations, 80 of which are not served by Emirates, bringing the total combined network offering to 206 unique destinations.

Both Dubai-based airlines said they will continue to offer customers greater choice and flexibility across their networks, with codeshares to more than 90 destinations today.

New codeshare flights recently launched include Krakow, Dubrovnik and Kinshasa with more destinations expected in the coming months such as Catania from June 13, Thessaloniki from June 15 and Helsinki from October 11.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saaed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Group and chairman of flydubai, said: We’re really pleased with how well the Emirates and flydubai partnership is going – based on bookings and the feedback from our customers and trade partners.

We have seen a strong demand for travel on combined Emirates-flydubai itineraries from Europe and the United States to the Middle East and West Asian destinations.


Tourism Observer

CROATIA: Zagreb Welcomes Emirates

Emirates’ inaugural Boeing 777-300ER flight from Dubai touched down in Zagreb to a water cannon salute and traditional Croatian folk dancers, with more than 350 passengers on board.

Travelling on today’s flight EK129 was Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer; Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Europe & Russian Fed); Gari Cappelli, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Croatia; His Excellency Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Croatia and a contingent of partners and business leaders from Dubai, Hong Kong, India and China.

Demonstrating the high level of interest in the new route and ease of connection inbound to Zagreb, today’s flight carried commercial passengers from more than 16 countries in Emirates’ network, including Taiwan, Australia, India, the United Arab Emirates, Korea, China, Japan, Singapore and South Africa.

In the flight deck of the B777-300ER operating the inaugural flight, were Captain Rashid Al Ismaili from the United Arab Emirates and Croatian-born First Officer Marin Zdrilic.

Emirates employs more than 250 Croatian nationals as pilots, cabin crew and in its ticket office in the Westin Hotel in Zagreb.

On landing at Franjo Tuđman International Airport, the delegation was received by Jacques Feron, CEO of MZLZ d.d. (Franjo Tuđman Airport) and senior airport and local officials.

A welcome reception was held in the airport’s brand new terminal, followed by a press conference, gift exchange ceremony and cake cutting.

After the formalities, government ministers, VIPs, airport executives, trade partners and media enjoyed a guided static tour of Emirates’ B777-300 ER aircraft.

The tour gave guests a chance to see first-hand the innovative amenities Emirates provides in all three cabins for passengers on board, including its trademark First Class suites, which is currently the only First Class offering on an international flight to and from Zagreb.

We look forward to continuing the successful partnerships we have formed over the coming months and years, he continued.

The new daily flight will open up access to more than 80 worldwide destinations in Emirates’ global network for Croatian travellers and vice versa.

Travel from Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, or Sydney and Melbourne can all be achieved with one stop at Emirates’ world-class Dubai hub.

The service is operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER with a three-class cabin configuration, offering eight private suites in First Class, featuring automated sliding doors for privacy, personal mini-bar and fully inclined seats, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy.

As with all Emirates flights, passengers travelling on the Zagreb service will be able to take advantage of the generous Emirates baggage allowance of up to 35kg in Economy Class and 40kg in Business Class, and 50kg in First Class.

On board, passengers can discover the ice Digital Widescreen, offering over 2,500 channels of on-demand audio and visual entertainment including the latest movies, TV shows, music, audio books and games.

Customers can enjoy the famous on-board hospitality from Emirates’ multi-national cabin crew, as well as gourmet regionally inspired dishes with complimentary beverages.

The inaugural service into Zagreb today operated as EK129, departing Dubai at 08.15am, arriving in Zagreb at 12.20pm. The flight departed Zagreb at 15.35pm, arriving in Dubai at 23.05pm.

CROATIA: Croatia Airlines Starts Flights From Zagreb To Pulkovo St. Petersburg Airport

Croatia Airlines has started regular air service from Zagreb (Croatia) to Saint Petersburg (Russia). The route will be launched for the first time in the recent history of Pulkovo airport. The carrier will operate the flights from 2 June to 23 October.

Travelers will be able to fly from the Northern capital of Russia to the capital of Croatia twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. Comfortable Airbus A319s with a capacity of 144 passengers will be operated on the route.

Before 2015, Pulkovo airport only had direct air service with Croatian resorts Pula and Split. In 2010-2014, over 62,000 passengers used direct flights between the two cities and St Petersburg. In addition, more than 21,000 travelers flew from Pulkovo to Zagreb and back via transfers in other airports, in 2010-2014.

“Every year many Russians choose Croatia, the country of rich history, magnificent nature and landscape, as their vacation spot. With the new route opening travelers will now be able to visit other points in Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina using convenient connecting flights via Zagreb. At the same time, St Petersburg remains one of the most visited cities in Europe, with cheap Russian ruble making traveling to Russia even more attractive. It is our strong belief that the new Croatia Airlines service to St Petersburg will be in demand both among Russian and Croatian tourists, say Evgeniy Ilyin, chief commercial officer at Northern Capital Gateway LLC, the operator of Pulkovo Airport.

The tickets are already available with promo rates starting from €199 for the round trip.

Other new routes planned for launching from Pulkovo in the summer season 2016 include Shanghai (China), Corfu, Zakynthos (Greece), and Batumi (Georgia). In addition, flights to Naples (Italy), Brussels (Belgium) and several other European cities will be renewed.

Croatia Airlines is the flag carrier of Croatia and a Star Alliance member. In the summer season 2016 the airline’s route network will include 34 points in 20 European countries.

CROATIA: Christmas Tourism In Croatia

With an ice sculpture festival, brass band fanfares and a huge skating rink, Croatia's capital is pulling in growing numbers of winter tourists in the hope of cheering its struggling economy.

In a country better known for summer holidays along its pristine coastline, Zagreb is promoting itself as a festive wonderland aiming to rival Europe's traditional Christmas destinations such as Vienna and Prague.

A packed 'Advent in Zagreb' programme offers special flight and hotel offers, themed walking tours, dozens of concerts and illuminated market stalls, where mulled wine, hearty sausages and cinnamon donuts are among the big hits.

The event, now in its sixth year, has propelled Zagreb to win the title of 'Best Christmas Market' this month from a poll of more than 100,000 travellers on the European Best Destinations website.

"This event is something really really important for our economy here in Zagreb," said Luka Benko from the city's tourist board, outlining the "huge promotion" of the Advent programme in domestic, regional and faraway markets.

"Probably you would say Croatia is a country for sea and summer, but then we are a continental country as well, we are very diversified."

Tourism is crucial for the European Union's newest member as it slowly emerges from six years of recession.

The sector was hard-hit by Croatia's 1990s war of independence from Yugoslavia, but it has since gradually recovered and now accounts for about 17 percent of gross domestic product.

Last year, this Adriatic nation drew in more than 13 million tourists -- more than triple its population.

While most headed to the coastline dotted with hundreds of islands, the Advent programme attracted a record 56,000 visitors to Zagreb in December 2014, marking a 21 percent rise from the previous year.

"We are experiencing the same thing this year. We are hoping to achieve at least these numbers but I'm sure we are going to have much much more," said Benko.

Visitors can download a smartphone app to guide them around the attractions on offer from late November until January 10, ranging from children's art workshops to pastry chef demonstrations and tastings.

Zagreb's growing appeal is mirrored by the rise in places to stay: since 2006, the number of hostels has shot up from five to 43, hotels from 38 to 53 and private accommodation options from 42 to more than 900, Benko said.

The range of bars and restaurants has also significantly increased amidst the graceful Habsburg architecture of the capital, which is home to 800,000 people.

Zagreb is a city that is big enough to offer all the highlights of a typical European capital, but small enough to be walkable with a charming neighbourhood vibe.

She said the Advent programme had infused local people with a sense of optimism at a time of economic sluggishness and changed habits in the largely Roman Catholic country, where Christmas has traditionally been celebrated indoors with family.

"The festive spirit has spread out into the streets and everything feels more exciting," Pisac said.

While tourist industry representatives have hailed the Advent programme, they say more investments and efforts are needed to diversify what Croatia can offer and encourage year-round visitors.

Croatian tourism's main challenge is to extend the season, and the issue has been on the agenda for a long time.

Zagreb's example Should inspire other attractions and events beyond the "sun and sea" to lure more visitors.

Most Advent guests currently hail from neighbouring Bosnia and Slovenia as well as Italy, but the ambitious marketing push has targeted further afield, including the United States and Asia.

With a return to national growth of around just 1.0 percent forecast for 2015, a broader tourist base would be welcomed by many but those drawn to Zagreb's relaxed Christmas atmosphere may be hoping that it does not get too popular.

"It's very cosy and it has soul," said first-time Italian visitor Franco Rossi, sipping champagne with his wife as a local folk band struck up in central Zrinjevac Square.

SERBIA: Air Serbia Reintroduces Belgrade-Zagreb Sector

Zagreb Airport welcomed with a special event the resumption of Air Serbia’s flights from Belgrade following a 23-year hiatus.

While the sector will be served twice-daily utilising the airline’s ATR 72s, the inaugural flight was operated by Air Serbia’s A319 “Novak Đoković” aircraft, named after Serbia’s most famous tennis player and piloted by Air Serbia’s COO, Davor Mišeljić, while the First Officer was Biljana Savić, one of Air Serbia’s three female pilots.

Air Serbia, formerly known as JAT Airways, increased its European offering with the addition of a new destination on 12 December – Zagreb (ZAG), from its Belgrade (BEG) hub.

The 348-kilometre sector to the Croatian capital was resumed following a 23-year hiatus, and will be served twice-daily utilising the airline’s 62-seat ATR 72s.

No other carrier serves this airport pair. Commenting on the route launch, Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, said: “Zagreb is Air Serbia’s fourth destination in Croatia, after Dubrovnik, Split and Pula, which have thus far operated as seasonal routes. Just this past summer, we were pleased to have carried close to 50,000 guests to these attractive summer destinations. With the introduction of Zagreb, our intention is to further develop year round inbound tourism, by offering our guests all of these destinations in Croatia, especially through our equity partner Etihad Airways.”