Emirates and Etihad Enter New Partnership that Allows Customers Use Single Ticket on Both Airlines

ONE FOR ALLEmirates and Etihad Enter New Partnership that Allows Customers Use Single Ticket on Both Airlines

Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways have entered into a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their interline agreement, offering travelers greater options when visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This collaboration between the two UAE carriers aims to capitalize on opportunities to increase tourism to the UAE from key source markets by enabling visitors to explore multiple destinations in a single itinerary.

*Emirates and Etihad Enter New Partnership that Allows Customers Use Single Ticket on Both Airlines. | Photo: Emirates*

During the upcoming summer season, customers of both airlines will be able to purchase a single ticket to fly into either Dubai or Abu Dhabi and seamlessly return via the other airport. This new agreement also offers travelers planning to explore the UAE the convenience of one-stop ticketing for their entire journey, along with streamlined baggage check-in.

Initially, the focus of the expanded interline agreement will be on attracting visitors to the UAE by developing inbound interline traffic from select points in Europe and China. This “open jaw” arrangement will enable visitors to cover more ground when exploring Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or other emirates, saving time by eliminating the need to return through their arrival airport. Travelers arriving in the UAE will also have the option of “multi-city flights,” allowing them to travel from one city on both carriers’ networks and conveniently return to another point served by either Emirates or Etihad.

Sitting on the left is Mohammad Al Bulooki (CEO, Etihad Airways), sitting on the right is Adnan Kazim (Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates), alongside Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive of Etihad, standing middle left; and Tim Clark, Rresident of Emirates, standing middle right. | Photo: 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. Both leaders expressed their commitment to the UAE’s vision for economic diversification and emphasized the agreement’s potential to develop further opportunities between the two airlines.

By strengthening their collaboration, Emirates and Etihad aim to support the UAE government’s objective of promoting tourism and enhancing the country’s position as a preferred global destination. Tourism plays a vital role in the UAE economy and is projected to contribute 5.4% to the nation’s GDP, amounting to AED 116.1 billion (USD 31.6 billion) and supporting over 1 million jobs by 2027.

This marks the second collaboration between the two airlines. In 2018, Emirates Group Security and Etihad Aviation Group signed an MoU to enhance aviation security, while last year, Emirates signed an MoU with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi to boost tourist numbers to the UAE capital.