UAE-based Etihad Airways and Ireland-based Aer Lingus have entered into a new code-sharing agreement.
The two air carriers have signed an interline and codeshare agreement. The deal follows a recent purchase of 2.987 percent equity in the Irish air carrier by the UAE airline. The agreement signed by the two companies means that Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on Aer Lingus flights between Dublin, Manchester and London Heathrow, and destinations in Ireland, the UK, the Channel Islands, Portugal, Netherlands and the US. The move will be reciprocated by Aer Lingus, which will place its ‘EI’ code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and Dublin.
The Irish airline will also have full access to flights across the network beyond Abu Dhabi to points that include Australia, Asia-Pacific, the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East. The new agreement has increased Etihad Airways’ code-share agreements with airlines across the world to 36.
James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways, said, ‘We are delighted to announce this new codeshare agreement with Aer Lingus which will provide Etihad Airways’ customers with new travel options and flight connections to Ireland, the UK, continental Europe, and across the Atlantic to Boston and New York. The codeshare agreement is an early indication of the success of Etihad Airways’ strategic plan to acquire equity in Aer Lingus and other airlines and the instant benefit it brings to both airlines’ customers around the world.’
The two firms have also disclosed that they were working towards a closer business relationship.
