With its inaugural service into Poland just around the corner Emirates kicked off its launch activities last night, giving the local Polish travel trade a preview of the airline’s award winning hospitality.

Over 500 guests from the business and travel trade community were welcomed by Emirates at The Palace of Culture and Science and Congress Hall where they were entertained by a live band and treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner. Guests also were given the chance to see elements of the airline’s flagship A380 aircraft with a replica First Class Private Suite on display.

Commencing operations from 6th February Warsaw will be Emirates’ first destination in Poland and 129th destination in the airline’s global network. Warsaw will operate as a daily service with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft and will be the first international airline to offer First Class in Poland.

“Warsaw will be the first new route for Emirates in 2013 and our preparations for launch are currently in full swing,” said Richard Jewsbury, Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Europe and Russian Federation. “With less than a month to go we are ramping up our activities on the ground in Warsaw and around our global network, in order to increase tourism flows in both directions.”

Earlier in the day the local Polish media met with Emirates executives to learn more about preparations for Emirates’ launch into Poland. Present at the press conference was Richard Jewsbury, Volker Greiner, Emirates Vice President North and Central Europe and Maciej Pyrka, Emirates Country Manager Poland.

In addition to passenger services Emirates SkyCargo will offer 238 tonnes of belly-hold capacity per week, further enhancing trade opportunities for Poland across the Emirates network. Key exports from Poland include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and electronic products, while some of the main imports are machinery, sporting goods, medical equipment, electrical equipment and leather products.

“Poland continues to see significant economic growth and our new flights, connecting Poland with our destinations in the Far East, Africa, Middle East and Australasia, will play a pivotal role in further boosting the city’s projected fiscal growth,” added Mr. Jewsbury.

Emirates’ flight EK 179 will take-off daily from Dubai at 0730hrs and land in Warsaw at 1045hrs – served by a 237 seat Airbus A330-200 in a three-class configuration. The return flight EK180 will depart Warsaw at 1350hrs arriving in Dubai at 2215hrs the same day.

Following the launch of Warsaw in February Emirates will launch a new service to Algiers on 1st March. Emirates is the world’s largest international airline with 195 aircraft, operating to 128 destinations. A total of 305 Polish nationals are employed across The Emirates Group, including 274 Cabin Crew.

Already, 2013 has been a busy one for Emirates with the opening of its new terminal, Concourse A in Dubai last week. The purpose-built A380 terminal includes 20 gates and will be home to the world’s largest First Class and Business Class Lounges due to open in the coming months.