Emirates passengers get splash of colour on inaugural Zagreb flight

First flight from Dubai to capital of Croatia touches down to welcome from traditional dancers as airline looks to boost links with central Europe.

Emirates’ inaugural Boeing 777-300ER flight from Dubai touched down in Zagreb today to a water cannon salute and traditional Croatian folk dancers, with more than 350 passengers on board. Courtesy Emirates
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The colourful spectacle of traditional Croatian folk dancers greeted the arrival of Emirates’ inaugural Boeing 777-300ER flight from Dubai to Zagreb today.

The aircraft, with more than 350 passengers on board, also received the traditional water cannon salute on touchdown.

On the flight deck of the B777-300ER were Captain Rashid Al Ismaili from the UAE and the Croatian-born First Officer Marin Zdrilic. Emirates employs more than 250 Croatian nationals.

A welcome reception was held in the airport’s brand new terminal. After the formalities, government ministers, VIPs, airport executives, trade partners and media enjoyed a guided tour of the 777 aircraft to see first-hand the 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.

“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,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

“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.” .

The Coatian minister of tourism 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. We believe that this direct daily flight between Dubai and Zagreb 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 South East 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, Taiwan.”

Jacques Feron, the chief executive of of MZLZ, the concessionaire of Franjo Tudman Airport, added: “We are extremely proud of the fact that one of the biggest airlines in the world, Emirates, chose Zagreb as their new destination in this part of Europe and this is even more important if taken in consideration that it comes just after the opening of the new passenger terminal.”

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.

chnelson@thenational.ae

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