airberlin: Dubai now also in summer

On 3 November 2010, airberlin will for the first time fly from Berlin to Dubai. Joachim Hunold, Chief Executive Officer of airberlin, Burkhard Kieker, Chief Executive Officer of visitBerlin and Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer of Berlin Airports, introduced the new airberlin nonstop connection in Dubai at an event for tourism, business and politics representatives, as well as the press.

Joachim Hunold, Chief Executive Officer of airberlin, said: "For the first time, airberlin flies nonstop from Germany to the Middle East on a regular basis and, as the only airline, connects Berlin with Dubai. Dubai is an extremely important location for airberlin, where we see a great potential for future growth. Therefore, airberlin will also fly to Dubai in summer 2011. We are convinced that this flight connection will also contribute to further tighten and expand the excellent relations between Germany and the Emirate of Dubai."

Burkhard Kieker, Chief Executive Officer of visitBerlin, said: "With a growth of 13 percent, Dubai and the Arab Gulf states are an important growth market. Finally, airberlin will launch flights to Dubai. Berlin is an ideal destination for health and wellness, culture and shopping. The city is an oasis of relaxation, which not only has numerous parks and public lakes and rivers, but also more bridges than Venice. Moreover, 22 luxury hotels across the city ensure perfect service and an unforgettable stay in Berlin."

Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer of Berlin Airports said: "We are delighted that airberlin will fly from Berlin to Dubai three times a week from November. The new long-haul route proves that air traffic from and to Berlin is a growth market. This year, for the first time, Berlin Airports will count more than 22 million passengers. The involvement of airberlin in Tegel and the intensified expansion of connecting traffic are an important pillar of this development. With BBI (Berlin Brandenburg International) we will continue this success story."

H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Ahli, Director General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), praised airberlin’s decision to launch flights to Dubai: "The new nonstop service to the capital of Germany significantly strengthens the existing relationship and enhances mutual trade and tourism. Germany and the Emirate of Dubai have enjoyed an excellent relationship in terms of trade and tourism since 1972. There are more than 500 German companies operating in the Emirate. We also maintain close cooperation in aviation activities."

In the future, airberlin will fly three times per week nonstop from Berlin to Dubai. Tickets are available from 199 Euro oneway. The prices include taxes, charges and topbonus miles, but exclude aviation tax. The Dubai-flights are integrated into the hub structure of the airline. Accordingly, connecting flights can take passengers to other destinations in Germany, such as Duesseldorf, Frankfurt or Munich, as well as to Gothenburg, Graz, Helsinki, Palma de Mallorca, Salzburg, Stockholm, Oslo, Vienna and Zurich.