Emirates counts down to Zagreb route launch
In just a few days’ time, Emirates will commence its scheduled daily flight between Dubai and Zagreb, expanding the airline’s network and further strengthening ties between the UAE and Croatia. The service to Zagreb sees Croatia become the airline’s 39th destination in Europe.
The new route will be an important one for Emirates as it will further strengthen the airline’s European footprint and tap into a new part of the continent – the south eastern part – thanks to Zagreb’s central location at the crossroads of Central Europe, the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Both business and leisure travellers from around the Emirates network will be able to use it.
To further facilitate trade and commerce, Emirates’ daily Boeing 777-300ER service will offer up to 23 tonnes of cargo per flight, providing many same-day transportation options for temperature-sensitive shipments to the UAE and beyond. Dedicated services like SkyPharma for pharmaceutical consignments and SkyFresh for perishables like fruit and vegetables will become available to Croatian exporters.
In preparation for the launch, Zagreb’s Franjo Tuđman Airport recently opened an impressive new passenger terminal. At the gate which will be used by Emirates’ Boeing 777, there is a connecting airbridge especially installed for wide-body aircraft, allowing travellers the convenience of boarding and disembarking directly from/into the terminal. The project represents one of the largest capital investments in Croatia in recent years, with a spend of over EUR 300 million.
The new route has created jobs in Croatia, with Emirates refreshing the ticket office in Zagreb’s Westin hotel it has been operating for over ten years. Additional local staff have been hired and trained to enhance the customer experience, providing assistance with enquiries and bookings.In addition, the airline employs almost 250 Croatian cabin crew and pilots.
Scheduled flight times: EK129 departs Dubai at 08:15hours and arrives in Zagreb at 12:20hours local time. The return flight EK130 departs Zagreb at 15:35hours and arrives in Dubai at 23:05hours same day.