Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their interline agreement and offer travelers additional itinerary options when visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
This agreement, the first of its kind between the two Emirati airlines, aims to take advantage of opportunities to boost tourism to the UAE from the main source markets, allowing visitors to visit more than one destination in the same itinerary.
Customers of each airline will be able to purchase a single ticket to fly to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, with seamless return via the other airport. The new agreement also offers travelers planning to explore the UAE the flexibility of a single ticket for the entire journey and convenient bag check-in.
In the initial phases of interlining expansion, each carrier will focus on attracting visitors to the UAE by developing incoming traffic from selected points in Europe and China. The open deal will allow visitors to cover as much ground as possible when exploring Abu Dhabi, Dubai or any other emirate, saving time by eliminating the need to fly home via their arrival airport. Customers traveling to the UAE will also have the option of “multi-city flights”, with the ability to travel from a city on both companies’ networks and return in comfort to another point served by Emirates or Etihad.
The MoU was signed at the Arabian Travel Market by Adnan Kazim, Emirates Commercial Director, and Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways Director of Operations, in the presence of Sir Tim Clark, Chairman of Emirates Airline, and Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad CEO , along with other senior representatives.
Sir Tim Clark, Chairman of Emirates Airline, stated: “We are delighted to be working with Etihad Airways again, this time so that each airline can offer a new range of seamless travel options in and out of the UAE. Emirates and Etihad are leveraging their strengths to expand their respective offerings to customers and boost tourism in the UAE. We believe this new agreement provides a solid foundation to develop new opportunities between both airlines and is an example of our commitment to the UAE’s vision of continued economic diversification.”
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, added: “We are delighted to partner with Emirates in our shared mission of supporting inbound tourism to the UAE and facilitating travel to our vibrant cities. With two world-class airlines supporting tourism from In the UAE, our interline agreement will make it more convenient for our customers to enjoy the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai on one ticket, while promising to deliver an exceptional flight experience whether they fly with Etihad Airways or Emirates – it’s a win-win proposition. for all travelers to the UAE”.
The expansion of the interline alliance is based on the commitment of both airlines to support the UAE government’s goal of promoting tourism in the country and enhancing the position of the UAE as a destination. Tourism is one of the key pillars of the UAE economy and is expected to contribute 5.4% of the country’s total GDP, or AED 116.1 billion (US$31.6 billion), supporting more than one million jobs by 2027.
This is the second time the airlines have announced a collaboration. In 2018, Emirates Group Security and Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen aviation security, including information and intelligence sharing in operational areas both inside and outside the UAE. Last year, Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism to increase the number of tourists visiting the Emirates capital from the main source markets of the airline’s global network.
Tickets can be booked at www.emirates.com, www.etihad.com, and at travel agencies.
Source: SGR Comunicaciones
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