Emirates arrives in Amsterdam to Queen's birthday celebrations

As the nation buzzed for Koninginnedag, or Queen's day, Emirates received a VIP welcome at Schiphol International Airport for its VIP delegation and other passengers aboard the inaugural flight from Dubai.

Zakumi, the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ mascot, of which Emirates is an Offical Partner, was at Dubai International Airport on Saturday to take part in the departure celebrations for Emirates' inaugural non-stop flight to Amsterdam. Zakumi was joined at the airport by (left to right) Jean-Luc Grillet, Emirates' Manager France & Benelux; Gilles Beschoor Plug, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates; Zakumi; Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation; Mr & Mrs Kees Van Spronsen, Kingdom of the Netherlands Consul-General in Dubai; Rob Broere, Vice President, Passenger Services Systems, Emirates Group IT; Skywards Golf Member Jeroen Leenan and Eric van Wijk, Managing Director, The Hospitality Company.

Zakumi, the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ mascot, welcomed passengers on Saturday at Dubai International Airport at check-in for Emirates' inaugural non-stop flight to Amsterdam. Emirates is an Official Partner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ which kicks off on 11th June.

EK145, Emirates' inaugural non-stop flight from Dubai to Amsterdam touches down at Schiphol International Airport on Saturday.

Emirates' inaugural non-stop flight from Dubai to Amsterdam receives a VIP escort after arriving at Schiphol International Airport on Saturday.

Celebrating Emirates' arrival in Amsterdam, its 23rd European destination, are (left to right) Maarten de Groof, Executive Vice President & CCO Schiphol Group, His Excellency Ali Thani Alsuwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands, Gilles Arnout Beschoor Plug, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kees van Spronsen, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation.

Those making the 1st May trip to open Emirates' 23rd route in Europe included Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation; Rob Broere, Vice President, Passenger Services Systems, Emirates Group IT; Jean-Luc Grillet, Emirates' Manager France & Benelux; Gilles Beschoor Plug, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates; Kees van Spronsen, Kingdom of the Netherlands Consul-General in Dubai and Eric van Wijk, Managing Director, The Hospitality Company.

Ambassador Plug said: "The new Emirates' service between Dubai and Amsterdam is a positive development in the growing relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. There is a long history of trade between the Netherlands and the Arab region, and trade between the Netherlands and the UAE now runs into billions of Euros annually, while a large number of Dutch companies have a presence in the UAE.

Ambassador Plug added: "We know new air links stimulate commerce and tourism and we are confident that this daily flight will result in more visitors to our countries, for the purposes of both business and pleasure."

Mr Obaidalla said: "We are very excited about the product we are bringing to the route - we have the latest 777 aircraft - and we are especially proud that we are the only carrier offering First Class between here and Dubai. We know that many thousands of people from the Netherlands already enjoy flying with Emirates, taking our flights out of Dusseldorf. Our new daily service will make life much more convenient for those heading to Dubai and onwards to our more than 100 destinations."

Amongst the welcoming delegation in Amsterdam were Maarten de Groof, Executive Vice President & CCO Schiphol Group and His Excellency Ali Thani Alsuwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands. All passengers were given commemorative tulips on arrival.

Served by a combination of the latest Boeing 777-300ER and 200LR, EK flight 145 leaves Dubai daily at 0825hrs and arrives in Amsterdam at 1330hrs. From Amsterdam, EK 146 departs at 1530hrs and arrives in Dubai at 2359hrs.

Queen's Day in the Netherlands falls on 30th April and is the Official Birthday of Queen Beatrix. It is a major public holiday in the country and many take extended breaks to mark the occasion, which includes music concerts, street markets and children's games.

The largest celebrations are in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.