Emirates and Etihad Airways have announced an interline agreement that gives travelers the option to fly into Dubai or Abu Dhabi and fly out of the other city. This first-of-its-kind agreement between the two UAE carriers is aimed at increasing tourism in the nation.
The interline agreement was announced at Arabian Travel Market on Thursday, May 4.
Emirates-Etihad deal
By taking advantage of this agreement, you can buy a ticket to either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, then return through the other airport seamlessly. This gives you the flexibility to travel across the UAE and visit multiple emirates without having to worry about returning through the airport of your arrival.
Hello, neighbour! Two airlines, one ticket, endless adventure. We’re pleased to announce our interline agreement with @emirates giving travellers more flexibility to explore the UAE. Fly into Abu Dhabi or Dubai with a seamless return from the other airport with a single ticket. pic.twitter.com/CQ8bUbQSXh
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) May 4, 2023
At the start of the expanded interline, each carrier will focus on attracting tourists to the UAE by developing inbound interline traffic from select European and Chinese points.
The ‘open jaw’ agreement will allow visitors to cover as much ground as possible when exploring Abu Dhabi, Dubai or any other emirate, saving time by removing the need to fly home via their arrival airport.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Arabian Travel Market bywas signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer, and Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer, Etihad Airways, in the presence of Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline, and Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad CEO, along with other senior representatives.
“We are pleased to be working again with Etihad Airways – this time to allow each carrier to offer a new range of seamless travel options in and out of the UAE. Emirates and Etihad are leveraging on our strengths to expand our respective customer offerings and boost UAE tourism. We believe this new agreement provides a strong foundation to develop further opportunities between both airlines and is an example of our commitment to the UAE’s vision for continued economic diversification”, said Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Emirates in our shared mission to support inbound tourism to the UAE and facilitate travel to our vibrant cities. With two world-class airlines supporting UAE tourism, our interline agreement will make it more convenient for our 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. It’s a win-win proposition for travellers to the UAE.”
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