1. of our geographical position by planning
their transit trips via a stay in Kiev," corpo-
rate press secretary, UIA, Evgeniya Sats-
kaya told TTG.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways has further
enhanced its position across CIS after re-
cently announcing an expanded codeshare
partnership with Belarus national carrier,
Belavia, to offer a daily service between
Abu Dhabi and Kiev via Minsk. Under the
agreement, Etihad Airways has placed its
EY flight code on Belavia’s daily services
between Minsk and Kiev.
A FAMILIAR RESIDENCE
Hosting many MENA guests upon their visit
to the Ukrainian capital is one of the coun-
try's most luxurious addresses, Fairmont
Grand Hotel Kyiv. Featuring 258 guest
rooms, including the popular Royal and
Presidential suites, guests from the UAE,
Egypt, Qatar, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco and
Iran, regularly visit this five-star address.
"Very often guests from MENA choose us
for a long stay, organising meetings, confer-
ences and big celebrations," marketing and
communications manager, Fairmont Grand
Hotel Kyiv, Maryna Kyshchynska stated.
Kempinski Hotels, with its well-known
presence across MENA, is taking advantage
of brand awareness for its Russia-based
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow and
Kempinski Hotel Moika 22 and Azerbaijan-
based Kempinski Hotel Badamdar Baku.
"Our hotels work directly with key tour
operators and wholesalers in MENA, while
Kempinski awareness in the region provides
us with additional support," outlined area
director of sales and marketing, Russia and
CIS, Kempinski, Lada Samodumskaya
exclusively to TTG.
Facilities that Kempinski's MENA guests
appreciate include a separate prayer room,
halal dishes, Qibla pointers and prayer mats
upon request, added Samodumskaya.
Additionally, Rixos Quba Azerbaijan and
Naftalan Hotel by Rixos are welcoming
an increasing number of guests from the
Middle East, mainly due to both hotels'
promotional efforts across the region. "We
organise familiarisation trips and build long-
term relationships with MENA travel agen-
cies," regional director – Azerbaijan, Rixos
Hotels, Sukru Kocak remarked to TTG, add-
ing that further promotions will take place
to attract more guests from Bahrain, Qatar,
the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
An increasing number of airlines and ho-
tels across these prominent regions have
undoubtedly resulted in the development
of further travel between them.
All indications are pointing towards a
bright future building on the equally
bright past between the two regional
powerhouses.
ON LOCATION RUSSIA & CIS
aircraft servicing the route. Six weekly flights from Dubai are expected to be operated
with a Boeing 777-300ER from October 25, 2015, instead of an Airbus 330-200. The
up-gauge will be applied to a seventh flight per week on December 1, 2015.
“Since 2011, when Emirates Airline launched flights to and from St Petersburg, we
have carried over 500,000 passengers on the route. Counting these figures along-
side our double-daily flights to Moscow, takes the total to over 3.6 million passengers
travelling on Emirates Airline to and from Russia,” outlined senior vice president,
commercial operations – Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates Airline,
Thierry Aucoc.
Kazakhstan's national carrier, Air Astana, has also enhanced travel from Dubai by
re-launching services on October 25, 2015. The non-stop flight will be operated four
times a week. “With Kazakhstan and the UAE strengthening links in business, finance,
tourism and culture, I’m confident that the new service will be extremely popular with
passengers," outlined president, Air Astana, Peter Foster.
Additionally, flydubai has also announced flights to the Kazakh capital, extending
the airline’s route network in the country to three destinations joining Almaty and
Shymkent. Operating four flights a week, due to start on October 26, 2015, the new
launch means the airline will operate over 30 weekly flights from Dubai to Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Air Kyrgyzstan is also welcoming flights from Dubai to Bishkek with a Boeing 737-
300 aircraft hosting 148 passengers, while Azerbaijan Airlines has revealed plans to
establish a low-cost service from Baku to Dubai from October 2015.
Elsewhere across CIS, Uzbekistan Airways – operating three flights per week from
Dubai, two per week from Sharjah and once per week from Jeddah - is welcoming
many tourists from MENA mainly to visit the country's famous Islamic sites. "As well
as a homeland of great Islamic heritage, Uzbekistan is a very attractive destination for
tourists from MENA countries. It is very popular to make a Hajj to Uzbekistan's holy
places before setting off to Makkah for the main pilgrimage," chief, tourism division,
Uzbekistan Airways, Rustam Kurganbaev told TTG.
Meanwhile, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is operating flights from Egypt, Tu-
nisia, Jordan, the UAE, Iran and Iraq. "These flights are very popular with our
passengers. Ukraine traditionally welcomes travellers from MENA taking advantage
A
vast land covering more than one-eighth
of the Earth's inhabited land area, Russia
- the largest country in the world – has al-
ways charmed tourists with an ever changing land-
scape hosting some beautiful natural wonders.
Spanning across nine time zones, the country
shares land borders with many CIS nations naturally
allowing for a consistent stream of trade, finance
and travel across the region. With Russia, Arme-
nia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan making up the
regional member states, and Turkmenistan and
Ukraine participating as associate states, that rep-
resents a huge amount of diversity, history and cul-
ture which attracts a consistent stream of tourists
from around the globe every year.
HISTORIC CONNECTIONS
Tourists from the MENA region are among the
many that choose Russia and the CIS as their
destination of choice.
With strong historical, cultural and religious ties
between both regions, all the major airlines oper-
ate routes from MENA. Russia’s national carrier,
Aeroflot, brings travellers into the country from
Dubai, Cairo, Beirut and Tehran; Transaero Airlines
flies tourists from Dubai, Hurghada and Sharm El
Sheikh; S7 Airlines connects Russia with Doha, Abu
Dhabi and Amman; while Ural Airlines operates a
route from Dubai, and Rossiya – Russian Airlines
hosts travellers from Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh
and Taba.
Among the many airlines from MENA that oper-
ate routes to Russia and CIS, Emirates Airline has
witnessed a huge increase in demand for its flights
from Dubai to St Petersburg, forcing the carrier to
increase capacity by 50 per cent by upgrading the
MAPPING
THE FUTURE
The MENA region has long since shared important cultural and
historical ties with Russia and CIS. Mario Hajiloizis investigates
how this has laid the foundations for an extremely bright
touristic future
Ukraine traditionally
welcomes travellers
from MENA.
22 October 2015 ttgmena.com