Etihad has inked a codeshare deal with Jet Airways that will allow passengers on both carriers to earn and redeem frequent flyer points.
Due to take effect on 1 July, the Middle East carrier will place its EY code on all Jet Airways' daily services between Delhi, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, with the Indian airline adding its 9W prefix on the same routes from Etihad.
Specifically, this will provide additional connections for passengers wanting to travel to India from Etihad destinations such as Damascus, Beirut, Geneva, Manchester, New York and Toronto.
India has long been a source of a significant labour pool for the burgeoning economies of the Gulf States and today's (10 June) news adds to the growing capacity from Asia to the Middle East.
”This new agreement will provide customers of both our airlines greater access to each other's expanding global networks,” said Etihad chief executive James Hogan.
Other opportunities will also see Jet Airways put its code on Etihad's daily service from Abu Dhabi to Kochi (Cochin) and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).
”The Mumbai and Delhi to Abu Dhabi routes hold great potential in terms of large passenger volumes,” said Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal. ”We were looking to enhance our presence on these sectors by means of a codeshare alliance - and in Etihad we believe we have found that partner.”
Etihad also has eight other codeshare agreements with: Yemen Airways; Saudi Arabia Airlines; Brussels Airlines; Sri Lankan; Royal Air Maroc; Philippine Airlines; Middle East Airlines and bmi.