Emirates celebrates inaugural flight from Dubai to Zagreb, Croatia

Emirates’ inaugural Boeing 777-300ER flight from Dubai has 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 and Russia, Gari Cappelli, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Croatia, Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Croatia, and a contingent of partners and business leaders from Dubai, Hong Kong, India and China.

On landing, the delegation was received by Jacques Feron, CEO of Franjo Tudman Airport, and senior airport and local officials.

"Today is an important milestone for Emirates as we launch full operations into the market and reinforce our commitment to growing trade and tourism flows between Dubai and Croatia. Since establishing our commercial presence in the market in 2003, we have worked with our trade and tourism partners to make this day happen. We thank those partners and especially the Ministry of Tourism and Franjo Tudman Airport for their support in preparing for introduction of our daily flight and the event today," said Thierry Antinori.

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

Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia, Gari Cappelli, said, "I am very pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Emirates in Zagreb on behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia. We believe that this direct daily flight between Dubai and Zagreb will bring many benefits to our country. Namely, it will enable significant increase of trade relations between countries and will have the especially positive impact on tourism. With Emirates daily flights, Croatia will not only become the centre of Southeast Europe in connection with the Middle East, the most propitious part of the world in terms of industrial growth, but will also be connected with many other countries like China, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. This year-round line will contribute to extending the tourist season."

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’ Dubai hub.