UAE-based Etihad Airways and state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) have expanded their codeshare agreement signed last year in the month of October. The carriers announced 12 new codeshare routes to destinations in Asia and Europe.
The new codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and Saudia, however, is subject to regulatory approval.
According to the codeshare agreement, Saudia will add its codes to Etihad flights operating between Abu Dhabi and major European and Asian cities such as Amsterdam, Baku, Brussels, Dublin, Hong Kong, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Phuket, Nagoya, Tokyo, and Seoul.
The partnership follows Etihad Airways’ announcement that it is willing to form new codeshare partnerships globally. Since then, the carrier signed similar codeshare agreements with Gulf Air and Egypt Air.
With regard to the new codeshare agreement, Tony Douglas, CEO of Etihad Aviation Group told the media, “The UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy strong economic, diplomatic and cultural links, and the partnership between our two national carriers is a natural and productive extension of these ties.”
He added, “Since announcing our partnership at this time last year, we have jointly achieved more than 53,500 passenger journeys, five times the 11,390 for the whole of 2018. The increased collaboration we have announced today will deliver even more growth to both airlines, provide greater choice for our passengers and freight customers, and further strengthen the ties between our nations.”
Etihad Airways is also collaborating with Air Arabia to form a new low-cost carrier in Abu Dhabi in a bid to tap into the growing demand for budget travel in the country.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, which will be Abu Dhabi’s first budget carrier, will be a joint venture between the two carriers and will operate from Abu Dhabi.