6.00 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Etihad Airways, SAS announce codeshare plan

Published
By Wam

Etihad Airways has announced codeshare operations with Scandinavia's airline SAS.

The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval, will strengthen both carriers by enabling them to offer greater connectivity to and from a number of key European cities. SAS is Etihad Airways’ 47th airline partnership globally and its 22nd in Europe. For SAS, Etihad is the 23rd codeshare partner and the third with strong presence in the Middle East.

Both airlines will also develop and sign a frequent flyer agreement, which will benefit the members of Etihad Airways’ Etihad Guest and SAS’ EuroBonus loyalty programmes.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy Officer, said, "This codeshare agreement with SAS will improve flight connections to Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, as well as a number of important secondary cities across Scandinavia, greatly enhancing travel options and connections for air travellers and deepening our ties with Europe and European carriers."

"Partnerships like this one with SAS are central to Etihad Airways’ strategy and we look forward to placing the SK code on our flights to and from Abu Dhabi, and welcoming their passengers aboard our aircraft."

The deal will see SAS place its SK code on Etihad Airways’ flights between Abu Dhabi and Brussels, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Geneva and London Heathrow.

In turn, Etihad Airways will place its EY code on SAS-operated flights from these European destinations, excluding Brussels, onto SAS’ hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm.

The EY code will also be placed on flights beyond Copenhagen to Billund and Alesund, beyond Oslo to Alesund, Kristiansand, Trondheim, and Stavanger, and beyond Stockholm to Umea, Sundsvall, and Ostersund.

Eivind Roald, SAS’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said, "We are very pleased to announce this new codeshare cooperation with Etihad Airways and look forward to increased traffic between Scandinavia and the Middle East."

"Tourism and trade between our regions have increased over the years, and we are happy to offer the benefits of both SAS and Etihad Airways to our travellers. From seven of SAS’ main European airports, we can offer a high quality product with Etihad Airways to and from Abu Dhabi."

"We also look forward to welcoming passengers from Etihad Airways onboard, giving them the true and appreciated SAS experience delivered the Scandinavian way where we focus on making life easier for frequent travellers." 

New Abu Dhabi-Seychelles schedule

Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles on Thursday announced changes to their flight schedules on the Abu Dhabi-Seychelles route, offering guests more choice and greater flexibility when travelling to and from Mahe in the Republic of Seychelles.
 
Effective from December 1, the new schedule will see Etihad Airways add one service per week and Air Seychelles a further two services per week, raising the combined number of weekly return flights to Seychelles from 10 to 13.
 
The new schedule will provide an additional 217 weekly connections to key destinations across the Gulf region, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, North Asia, and Australia, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul. Excellent connectivity will be maintained to and from Europe via Etihad Airways’ hub in Abu Dhabi.
 
Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said, "The change in flight schedule comes as part of the airline’s efforts to move towards a consistent double daily service between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles in cooperation with our equity partner, Air Seychelles.
 
"The new schedule will greatly benefit business and leisure travellers, ensuring they have more convenient travel options when flying between the UAE and Seychelles, and better onward flight connections on our global network."

Etihad Airways commenced services between Abu Dhabi and Mahe in the Seychelles in November 2011, while Air Seychelles began operations in March 2012. The airlines operate a combination of two-class Airbus A330 (18 Business Class and 236 Economy Class) and A320 (16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class) aircraft on the route.