This new agreement between Emirates and Etihad is the first of its kind and represents a significant milestone in the aviation industry.
Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways, the two largest airlines in the United Arab Emirates, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to broaden their interline agreement. This partnership aims to boost tourism to the UAE from key source markets by enabling visitors to experience more than one destination in a single trip. The agreement will allow customers to purchase a single ticket to fly into either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, with a flawless return via the other airport. In the initial stages, each carrier will focus on attracting visitors to the UAE by developing inbound interline traffic from select destinations in Europe and China.
The commitment of both airlines to support the UAE government’s objective to promote tourism and enhance its position as a favorable global destination is highlighted through the new partnership. Tourism is one of the most essential sectors of the UAE economy, contributing nearly 5.4% of the nation’s total GDP.
This new agreement between Emirates and Etihad is the first of its kind and represents a significant milestone in the aviation industry. The two UAE carriers are leveraging their strengths to expand their respective customer offerings and boost UAE tourism. The new agreement also provides travelers planning to explore the UAE with the flexibility of one-stop ticketing for their full journey and convenient baggage check-in.
Under the new agreement, visitors can explore as much as possible when exploring Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or any other emirate, saving time by removing the need to fly home via their arrival airport. Customers traveling into the UAE now have the option of ‘multi-city flights’, with the choice to travel from one city on both carriers’ networks, and conveniently return to another point served by either Etihad or Emirates.
The MoU was signed at the Arabian Travel Market in the presence of senior representatives, including Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, and Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways.
Sir Tim Clark said that the new agreement provides a strong foundation to develop further opportunities between both airlines and is an example of their commitment to the UAE’s vision for continued economic diversification. He added that Emirates and Etihad are working towards broadening their customer offerings and boosting UAE tourism.
Antonoaldo Neves said that the interline agreement will make it more convenient for guests to experience the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai on one single ticket while promising to deliver an exceptional flying experience whether they fly with Etihad Airways or Emirates. He added that it is a win-win proposition for travelers to the UAE.
This isn’t the first time both airlines have announced a collaboration. Back in 2018, Emirates Group Security and Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intending to strengthen aviation security, which included the sharing of information and intelligence in operational areas within and outside the UAE. Emirates also signed an MoU with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, to boost tourism to the UAE capital.
The Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways interline agreement represents a significant milestone in the aviation industry, especially in the UAE. By capitalizing on each other’s strengths and collaborating to offer more travel options, the two airlines are not only providing more convenience and flexibility to their customers but also contributing to the growth of tourism in the UAE. As the tourism industry continues to play a significant role in the UAE’s economy, partnerships like this are crucial to further develop the industry and enhance the UAE’s position as a global destination. Overall, this agreement is a win-win situation for both airlines, their customers, and the UAE tourism industry.
