Etihad expands codeshare with India’s Jet Airways

Etihad Airways has announced a major expansion of its codeshare agreement with Jet Airways, offering travellers enhanced connections throughout India, and linking India with even more destinations worldwide.

The two airlines have obtained regulatory approval to codeshare on 43 additional routes, bringing the total number of services in their codeshare agreement to 71.

As part of the expansion, Etihad Airways has placed its ‘EY’ code on domestic services in India for the first time, with the codeshare agreement now including 31 Jet Airways routes from hubs in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore to regional centres in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Patna, Trivandrum and Vadodara.

The codeshare agreement has also been updated to incorporate Jet Airways’ international connections from Mumbai and Delhi to the Asian tourism and economic hubs of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, together with services linking Chennai to Abu Dhabi and Singapore.

Furthermore, Jet Airways has strengthened its offering to the US and Europe by codesharing on additional Etihad Airways routes between Abu Dhabi and Chicago, New York, Dublin and Milan.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “In addition to placing our ‘EY’ code on domestic flights within India for the first time, the agreement now covers all six of Jet Airways’ services to Abu Dhabi. This has multiple benefits for travellers, such as expanded network reach, more frequent services, and increased convenience. Jet Airways’ guests also benefit from seamless connections to more destinations globally, with the airline’s ‘9W’ code placed on almost 20 per cent more Etihad Airways routes than previously offered.”

Prior to this expansion, Etihad Airways codeshared on seven routes operated by Jet Airways, with the agreement covering flights between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Bangalore and Hyderabad, together with connections from Brussels to Newark and Toronto.

In addition, Jet Airways codeshared on 21 Etihad Airways routes to India (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Trivandrum), Europe (Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Manchester, Munich and Paris), the US (Washington DC), Australia (Brisbane), and Africa (Johannesburg and Nairobi).

Etihad takes steps toward Alitalia investment

Etihad Airways said it had set the terms for investing in loss-making airline Alitalia and was looking to conclude the deal, as the Abu Dhabi carrier expands its reach in Europe.

Both airlines will proceed with final documentation to complete the transaction once the board and stakeholders in Alitalia confirm acceptance of the terms, it was announced in a joint statement on Sunday.

Etihad, which already has stakes in Air Berlin and Aer Lingus, could invest more than 500 million euros ($682.3 million; Dh2.5 billion) in exchange for a 49 percent stake in the Rome-based airline, sources have said.

No details of the terms of deal or size of investment was provided in the statement.

Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi told state television that Etihad was ready to invest around 600 million euros in Alitalia. He also said the deal would not entail creation of a separate company to hive off its bad debts.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has been looking at the possibility of an investment in Alitalia since the start of the year. But the prospect of large job cuts at Alitalia as well as its debt of at least 800 million euros have been major hurdles in the talks. One source familiar with the talks said an agreement had been reached that would involve reducing Alitalia's payroll by as many as 2,800-2,900 jobs, at least part of which may be covered by a state-sponsored layoff scheme.

Major job cuts are likely to stir opposition from Italy's unions.

The deal included a compromise over Etihad's request for a high-speed rail line to the Fiumicino airport in Rome after Italy said it could not be done quickly, the source added. "We are delighted to be able to move forward with this process and look forward to the successful conclusion of the proposed transaction with Alitalia," Etihad Chief Executive James Hogan said in the statement.

Alitalia Chief Executive Gabriele Del Torchio said the deal would provide financial stability to the airline.

The Italian government looks favourably at the partnership, the statement added.

Etihad daily Abu Dhabi-Los Angeles service takes flight

Etihad Airways has launched its daily EY 171 service between Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is Etihad Airways' fourth US destination, joining Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. on the airline's expanding network. This will increase further on December 3, 2014 with the addition of direct flights to Dallas / Fort Worth.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Los Angeles is one of the world's premier travel destinations and iconic cities and we are delighted that today it becomes part of the Etihad Airways global network.

"The greater Los Angeles area has a diverse population of more than 18 million people, the second largest in the US, who can now access direct flights to Abu Dhabi and beyond into the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent." The Los Angeles service is set to be popular with guests looking to travel to California from other parts of the world, all of whom will experience Etihad Airways' renowned customer service and product.

Guests and their checked-in baggage flying from Abu Dhabi are also processed through all US immigration, customs and agriculture inspections, before boarding the aircraft, eliminating the need to do so on arrival in the US.

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