FlyDubai, Dubai’s pioneering low-cost airline, has inaugurated services to its 46th destination – Serbia’s White City, Belgrade. The new route is FlyDubai’s 12th destination in Central and Eastern Europe, a region key to the pioneering airline’s development strategy.
FlyDubai flight FZ713 took off for Nikola Tesla Airport at 0910hrs yesterday, landing in Belgrade at 1155hrs local time. The new route marks FlyDubai’s entry into Serbia and further strengthens FlyDubai’s international route network which currently spans 46 destinations in 27 countries across the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Asia and the fringes of Europe.
Speaking at an official press conference attended by top Serbian government officials including Jelena Marjanovic, Assistant Minister of Economy and Regional Development, FlyDubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the Serbian authorities. Thanks to their strong support, the UAE is now connected to a destination that appeals to a wide variety of travellers, and we are thrilled to provide a low-cost, direct connection to one of the world’s most exciting destinations. The new route will enable UAE’s leisure and business travellers to enjoy and experience the city’s many attractions. We also hope the new flights will help the 5,000-strong Serbian community in Dubai to visit friends and family back home more often.”
H.E Mr. Abdulaziz Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador for Italy and Serbia, said: “This new link will play a big role in developing business and tourism relations between the UAE and Serbia. Belgrade is a city with a great deal to offer its visitors but it is also important that Serbian nationals now have a high-quality, low-cost option to visit the UAE.”
Jamal Al Hai, ESVP Communications and International Affairs, Dubai Airports, and Member of the UAE Parliament, said: “The UAE is always open to new opportunities and from today we can look forward to working more closely with Serbia. This is yet another step towards furthering strong relations between our respective nations and on behalf of the UAE Government, I would like to congratulate FlyDubai and the Serbian authorities on the start of this new direct service.”
Located at the convergence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, Belgrade is both the capital and the largest city of Serbia. With a population of 1.7 million, it is one of the world’s fastest growing cities and has fostered strong tourism and financial sectors. It is also the regional base for a large number of regional MNCs (multi-national companies) including AXA, Intel, Motorola, Kraft Foods, Microsoft, Unilever, P&G amongst others.
The city is a major draw for arts, culture and music enthusiasts having developed a prolific music, arts, architecture and theatre scene, with mainstream and alternative movements existing side by side. It is also Europe’s top-rated party destination, renowned the world over for its friendly atmosphere and great clubs dotted throughout the city, including the Splavovi – barges that have been converted into nightclubs that spread across the banks of the Sava and Danube. In addition to leisure visitors, the city also attracts adventure and sports tourists looking for an adrenalin rush, with a variety of extreme sports on offer ranging from bungee-jumping to water-skiing.
