The FINANCIAL — Czech Airlines will operate new regular air service between Košice and Kiev from mid May 2015. With this route Košice will get connection to another European metropolis, first in the direction to/from Eastern Europe.
The flights will be operated four times per week with departures from Košice on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Czech Airlines will deploy a modern Airbus A319 with 144 seats on this route. Tickets will be available from tomorrow and first flight is planned on 18th May 2015, according to Czech Airlines.
Flights to Kiev will be operated in accordance with successful models Prague – Bratislava – Košice or Prague – Hamburg – Gothenburg, i.e. in a direction Prague – Košice – Kiev and back. Passengers flying from Prague to Kiev (and back) will not disembark from the aircraft during the stopover in Košice. After a short 30 minutes turnaround the flight will continue on the leg Košice – Kiev or back to Prague.
New route between Košice and Kiev and its connection to flight schedule between Prague and Košice will enable Czech Airlines to use a faster Airbus A319 on the flights Prague – Košice and back instead of a turboprop ATR which is usually deployed on this short flight. The Airbus A319 will be operated in Economy and Business travel class. In the Business class Czech Airlines serve refreshments prepared according to concept of renowned restaurant chain Zátiší Group. Czech Airlines will grant all members of loyalty program OK Plus with 100% more miles for every flight on the new route Košice – Kiev.
„Czech Airlines bring two messages today to Košice: direct flight connection Košice – Kiev and thanks to deployed Airbus A319 also a faster connection to/from Prague during the selected days“ said Ján Tóth, Czech Airlines director for Sales and Marketing. „We see a growth of demand for a direct connection between Košice and Kiev as there already are some business relationships in which we see a growing potential for the air service. We believe that economic situation in Ukraine will improve and we are convinced that the flight connection Košice – Kiev will have positive impact on further business relations between Slovakia and Ukraine.”
Karl Dandler, CEO and chairman of the management board: “The new CSA route Kosice – Kiev is a confirmation that we are becoming the real gateway to Eastern Slovakia. After Bratislava, Vienna, Prague and London, Kiev will be the fifth European Capital city with a direct flight connection with Košice. This opens new horizons for the international cooperation in business and tourism. Thank you to our long term partner Czech Airlines.”
Richard Raši, mayor of Košice: “We have Days of Ukraine and Slovak – Ukraine business forum going on in Košice at the moment. The flight connection Košice – Kiev gives a completely new dimension for these events. Direct air service creates significant conditions for further development of cross border cooperation in industry, IT, culture and tourism and it intensifies role of Košice as a gateway to the EU for our partners from Ukraine.
Renáta Lenártová, vicemayor of Košice and chairman of the board of Košice Tourism: “During 2014 more than 55 000 Ukrainian tourists visited Slovakia. Thanks to direct air service Košice – Kiev with Czech Airlines this number can grow significantly during this year. Therefore I would like to kindly invite people of Ukraine to visit and explore our wonderful city and region.”
Zdenko Trebuľa, president of Košice self-governing region: “Direct air service Košice – Kiev is great news not only because of historical and geographical relationship between Eastern Slovakia and Ukraine, but also because of the opportunities which lie ahead of us. International cooperation is a chance for both countries and I believe that our region will be one of the main drivers of this cooperation.”
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