The Air France-KLM Group is cosying up with Etihad Airways with an expanded partnership and codeshare deal, the 2 airline teams introduced on Thursday.
Throughout a ceremony on the headquarters of Air France-KLM in Paris, the 2 events signed a memorandum of understanding which is able to lays the groundwork for a slew of latest codeshare routes, reciprocal frequent flyer advantages and different enhancements – topic to regulatory enchancment.
The 2 airline teams have had a free partnership since 2012, however this was restricted to an interline settlement and a really restricted codeshare deal. The expanded partnership will convey them a lot nearer collectively, with advantages for passengers and the airways alike.
Greater than 40 routes overlaying locations in Europe, the Center East, Asia Pacific and Australia have already been recognized for the expanded codeshare deal. Tickets have already gone on sale for flights departing as early because the winter 2023 season.
Codeshare routes will enable frequent flyers of each Flying Blue and Etihad Visitor to earn and redeem miles with Air France, KLM, and Etihad (though this earn and burn settlement hasn’t but been finalised).
As well as, the airways are going to have a look at co-locating in the identical airport terminals and sooner or later, it’s hoped {that a} reciprocal lounge entry settlement will likely be finalised.
Angus Clarke, the EVP and COO of the Air France-KLM Group, acknowledged that the choice to develop the settlement with Etihad was borne out of the airline’s strategic place within the Persian Gulf.
“The attractiveness of Abu Dhabi as a vacation spot and a hub, powered by Etihad’s giant footprint spanning South and Southeast Asia, in addition to Australia, brings important richness to this partnership,” Clarke admitted.
“This second marks our shared dedication to offering seamless, premium, customer-centric journey experiences to our shared international buyer base,” Clarke continued.
With this expanded partnership, we now have a really clear imaginative and prescient of how Gulf carriers are associating themselves with conventional airline alliances – with out essentially being part of one themselves.
Emirates has partnered with United and Air Canada within the Star Alliance, and Qatar Airways, which is itself a member of Oneworld, has additionally developed an in depth relationship with American Airways within the final yr, in addition to being a shareholder in Europe’s IAG group which owns British Airways and Iberia.
In the meantime, Etihad is associating itself with the Skyteam via Air France-KLM, and the new cash is on a separate cope with fellow Skyteam member Delta within the close to future to counter the risk from American Airways and United.
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