Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM have signed an agreement to codeshare on flights across their networks to commences on October 28 2012. The codeshare agreement will provide Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM joint codes on destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
On a different note Air France has announced a new codeshare agreement with airberlin, in which Etihad Airways holds a 29.21 per cent stake.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer, said, “This deal, Etihad Airways’ 40th codeshare, marks a momentous milestone for both airline groups and offers countless opportunities to develop an unrivalled commercial relationship.
“It reflects the core elements of Etihad Airways’ 10-year master plan, driven by organic network growth, combined with the forging of strategic codeshare partnerships and minority equity investments in other airlines.
“The linking together of these three components, as we continue to strengthen our bilateral agreements, means all the pieces of our plan are coming together.”
Combined the two airline groups expect to carry more than 85 million passengers in 2012.
Hartmut Mehdorn, airberlin’s chief executive officer added, “Our cooperation with the Air France-KLM Group represents another milestone for airberlin in developing a unique, global flight network in conjunction with these world-beating airlines.
“This strategic step will add further interesting services to the choice we can offer our passengers and will have a positive influence on our operations. In this way we will considerably strengthen our presence in the European market and link our Berlin hub to even more destinations.”
Jean–Cyril Spinetta, Air France-KLM’s chief executive officer, said: “This new partnership between Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways and airberlin reflects our Group’s strategic positioning to ensure the best possible services between Europe and the rest of the world, by developing our network and airline partnerships.
"Working with Etihad Airways allows us to offer our customers a range of new attractive destinations.”
Initially, the agreement between Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM will see the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s EY code placed on Air France flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Madrid, Nice and Toulouse.
The EY code will also be assign on KLM flights between Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi, Billund, Cardiff, Newcastle, Oslo and Stavanger.
Air France will initially assign its AF code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and the Seychelles, the Maldives, Colombo, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Islamabad.
KLM will initially assign its KL code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, Melbourne, Islamabad, Colombo and Lahore.
As announced, the partner airlines aim to work together on the proposed integration of frequent flyer programs which includes reciprocal ‘earn-and-burn’ privileges for 1.5 million Etihad and 21 million Air France-KLM members across the combined networks.