Saudia, Etihad expand codeshare agreement

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, have expanded their commercial partnership by announcing 12 new codeshare routes in Asia and Europe.

The two airlines have placed their flight codes on each other’s services between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina since signing the agreement in October last year, they said in a joint statement.

Saudia has also added its “SV” code to Etihad flights between Abu Dhabi and 12 more destinations – Ahmedabad, Belgrade, Brisbane, Chengdu, Chicago, Dusseldorf, Lagos, Melbourne, Moscow-Domodedovo, Rabat, Seychelles and Sydney. Meanwhile, Etihad has placed its “EY” code on Saudia flights to Peshawar, Multan, Port Sudan and Vienna.

As part of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, Saudia will progressively increase its code to Etihad flights between Abu Dhabi and 11 more destinations in nine destinations - Amsterdam, Baku, Brussels, Dublin, Hong Kong, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Phuket, Nagoya, Tokyo and Seoul.

Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Since announcing our partnership at this time last year, we have jointly achieved more than 53,500 passenger journeys, five times the 11,390 for the whole of 2018. The increased collaboration we have announced today will deliver even more growth to both airlines, provide greater choice for our passengers and freight customers, and further strengthen the ties between our nations.”

Saudi Arabian Airlines director general Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, said: “Network growth and increased access to destinations provides our guests with greater flexibility and convenience.”

Etihad Airways serves almost 80 destinations, including four in Saudi Arabia, while Saudia operates flights across four continents with a modern mixed fleet of narrow and widebody aircraft.