Some big news out of the Arabian Travel Market, with Etihad and Emirates expanding their cooperation, with an interline agreement being expanded.
The aim of the agreement is to provide travellers with additional itinerary options when visiting the UAE. It is also a first-of-its-kind agreement between the two UAE carriers that aims to capitalise on opportunities to boost tourism to the UAE from crucial source markets by enabling visitors to experience more than one destination in a single itinerary.
In practice, customers of each airline will be able to purchase a single ticket to fly into either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, with a seamless return via the other airport. The new agreement also provides travellers planning to explore the UAE with the flexibility of one-stop ticketing for their full journey and convenient baggage check-in.
In the initial stages of the expanded interline, each carrier will focus on attracting visitors to the UAE by developing inbound interline traffic from select points in Europe and China.
The ‘open jaw’ arrangement will allow visitors to cover as much ground as possible when exploring Abu Dhabi, Dubai or any other emirate, saving time by removing the need to fly home via their arrival airport. Customers travelling into the UAE also have the option of ‘multi-city flights’, with the choice to travel from one city on both carriers’ networks, and conveniently return to another point served by either Emirates or Etihad.
The agreement was signed at Arabian Travel Market by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, and Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, of Etihad Airways, in the presence of Sir Tim Clark, President, of Emirates Airline, and Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad CEO, along with other senior representatives. It will go into effect this summer (summer 2023).
In Quotes
Sir Tim Clark, President, of Emirates Airline said:
“We are pleased to be working again with Etihad Airways – this time to allow each carrier to offer a new range of seamless travel options in and out of the UAE. Emirates and Etihad are leveraging on our strengths to expand our respective customer offerings and boost UAE tourism. We believe this new agreement provides a strong foundation to develop further opportunities between both airlines and is an example of our commitment to the UAE’s vision for continued economic diversification.”
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said:
“We’re delighted to partner with Emirates in our shared mission to support inbound tourism to the UAE and facilitate travel to our vibrant cities. With two world-class airlines supporting UAE tourism, our interline agreement will make it more convenient for our guests to experience the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai on one single ticket while promising to deliver an exceptional flying experience whether they fly with Etihad Airways or Emirates. It’s a win-win proposition for travellers to the UAE.”
Working together again
This is the second time Emirates and Etihiad have worked together – with Emirates Group Security and Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) working to strengthen aviation security, including sharing information and intelligence in operational areas both within and outside the UAE.
For passengers who want to spend a little more time exploring, however, this is excellent news. It opens up the possibility of open-jaw itineraries (where you can arrive from one city and depart from another one).
Whilst there is no love lost between the two competing airlines, it is interesting that they are choosing to work together to forward the aims of the UAE.
As to tighter cooperation between Emirates and Eithad? Only time will tell.
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Last year, Emirates signed an MoU with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, to boost tourist numbers to the UAE capital from key source markets across the airline’s global network.
