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ZAG welcomed first Windrose Airlines flight

The arrival of the new airline Windrose Airlines on the route Kyiv-Zagreb-Kyiv was welcomed with a water salute on Sunday, October 4, 2020. Windrose is the first airline in the recent history of Croatia and Ukraine to connect the capitals of Ukraine and Croatia in a direct line.

The inaugural flight ceremony was held in the International Departure area, attended by Oleksii Reznikov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine; Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia, and Vasyl Kyrylych, Ambassador of the Republic of Ukraine to the Republic of Croatia, with associates.

On behalf of the host, Zagreb Airport, a member of the Management Board of MZLZ Ltd., Julien Pierre Coffinier, gave warm welcome to the new airline: “This is the first time in the recent history of Ukraine and Croatia that Kyiv and Zagreb are connected by a direct flight. We are happy that our joint efforts resulted in today's arrival of a new airline and the opening of a new destination during the crisis in the aviation industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Coffinier, emphasizing that the new airline will further contribute to good economic relations and tourism between Ukraine and Croatia.

Nikolina Brnjac, the current Minister of Tourism and Sport, pointed out: “Today's new air bridge that connects us is not the beginning but a confirmation of the friendship between the two countries. The line established today contributes to easier arrival of tourists, but also to economic cooperation, investments and presentation of the best that Ukraine and Croatia have to offer. I hope that the good load factor on this route will result in the decision to establish additional new direct flights between Ukraine and Croatia and thus even better connections."

Oleksii Reznikov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, thanked his Croatian colleagues who recognized the importance of establishing this line, emphasizing that it will contribute to the development of bilateral relations between Croatia and Ukraine: "I am sure that direct flight will stimulate business as well as economic relations, and the growth of tourism, both in Croatia and in Ukraine".
The ceremony ended with a joint cake cutting and a photoshoot, respecting all epidemiological measures.

Windrose Airlines is the largest Ukrainian charter company with its headquarters in Kiev and the home airport of Boryspil. Founded in 2003, it operates charter flights to destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Windrose Airlines will connect Kyiv and Zagreb twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, with an Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft with a capacity of 48 seats.