Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, unveiled new expansion plans for Eastern Europe today, with the launch of daily services to Kyiv Boryspil International Airport in Kiev from 16th January 2014, marking its first route to the Ukraine.

Offering a daily service, operated by an Airbus A340-500, the new flight will provide convenient global connections, via Dubai, to the country’s population of 45 million, further enhancing the nation’s burgeoning economy.

With a booming agricultural sector the Ukraine is currently the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil and a major global producer of grain and sugar.

“We see strong potential in the Ukraine through its agribusiness, heavy machinery industries, technology, and tourism. Kiev will be our 35th passenger route in Europe and Emirates’ customers in the Ukraine will be able to fly non-stop to our Dubai hub and conveniently connect onwards to destinations in the Indian Ocean Islands and Asia, in addition to our extensive Australian network courtesy of our partnership with Qantas,” said Hubert Frach, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West.