DUBAI - Emirates, yesterday launched a scheduled daily Airbus A340-500 flight service to Kiev, marking the airline's first destination to the Ukraine.
Emirates flight EK171 departed from Dubai International Airport at 17:10 with the following onboard:
- Thierry Antinori, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Emirates
- Thierry Aucoc, senior vice president, commercial operations for Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates
- Abdul Salam Hareb Al Romaithi, UAE ambassador to the Ukraine
- Polurez Yuriy, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates
- Petro Holoveshko, Consul general, Consulate of the Ukraine, Dubai
- Oleg Fidelskiy, president, AAL Group
- Olexandr Lukyanov, regional director, Motor Sich
- Khalid B Al Falasi, deputy director, Contracts and Purchasing, DTCM
- Serge Zaalof, president and managing director, Atlantis the Palm, Dubai
- Hiran Perera, senior vice president, cargo planning and freighters, Emirates SkyCargo
On arrival at Kyiv Boryspil International Airport, the aircraft was received by:
- Valentin Zgurskiy, head of Aviation Transport Department, Ukraine Ministry of Infrastructure
- Sergey Gomboleskiy, deputy general director, Boryspil International Airport
Antinori, said: “We are very positive about our new service between Kiev and Dubai, and we believe this daily air link will further stimulate the growing business and tourism opportunities between both cities.
“Over 150,000 Ukrainians a year visit the UAE and we know Dubai is a popular choice for Ukrainians, who appreciate the world-class accommodation, dining and entertainment venues, warm weather and clean sandy beaches. Now they will have greater choice - access to Emirates award-winning service and gourmet food and for the first time on this route a First Class cabin option.”
The United Arab Emirates opened an embassy in Kiev last year, during the first half of 2013, the value of trade between the Ukraine and the UAE increased 27 percent to $429 million. Emirates flight service to Kiev will have a 15-ton cargo hold on every flight.
The daily service EK171 leaves Dubai at 17:10hrs and arrives in Kiev at 20:30hrs the same day. The return flight to Dubai leaves Kiev at 22:05hrs and gets into Dubai at 04:45hrs the following day.