Emirates launches daily flights to Budapest

Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates celebrated its 29th birthday this week by adding Budapest to its growing roster of global destinations.

“Budapest will be the third European destination we launch services to in this financial year, highlighting our continued investment in the region,' said Emirates airline president Tim Clark.

Daily flights to the Hungarian capital commenced yesterday operating on the wide-body Airbus A330-200. The route launch was met with celebration at Budapest Airport as it coincides with the opening of the airline's multi-million dollar Customer Contact Centre that will go on to support more than 300 local jobs when it becomes fully operational.

Passengers from Hungary will also benefit from visa-on-arrival in Dubai as business and trading interests in the Middle East, Asia and Australia continue to grow for the Central European nation.

“Our service to Budapest will open up a world of opportunity for people in Hungary. It will introduce faster connections for our customers - both passengers and exporters – through our Dubai hub to numerous points that are currently underserved, including Sydney, Taipei and Phuket,' Clark added.

Considered a financial hub in Central Europe, Budapest currently has the fifth largest economy in Central and Eastern Europe. The UAE is also Hungary’s largest Arab trading partner with annual trade between the two countries pegged at around US $1.2 billion.

Originally two cities, Buda and Pest, the now unified Budapest is often cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and offers leisure visitors a diverse mix of World Heritage sites and a rich historical culture. The city attracts over 4.3 million tourists each year, making it the sixth most visited city in Europe.

kadry@khaleejtimes.com