Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM Unveil New Codeshare Partnership

Etihad Airways

Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM have signed a new agreement to codeshare on flights across the airlines' networks. The new codeshare agreement is seen as the first step of a much wider strategic partnership which will commence on 28 October 2013.


The wide-ranging codeshare agreement will see Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM offering joint codes on flights to various destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.  At the same time, Air France has announcing a new codeshare agreement with AirBerlin. AirBerlin is Germany's second largest and Europe’s sixth largest airline. Etihad Airways holds a 29.21 per cent stake in the German carrier.

Initially, the agreement between Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM will see the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s EY code placed on Air France flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Madrid, Nice and Toulouse. The EY code will also be placed on KLM flights between Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi, Billund, Cardiff, Newcastle, Oslo and Stavanger.

Air France will initially place its AF code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and the Seychelles, the Maldives, Colombo, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Islamabad. KLM will initially place its KL code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, Melbourne, Islamabad, Colombo and Lahore.

The new strategic partners will work together on the proposed integration of frequent flyer programs which includes reciprocal ‘earn-and-burn’ privileges for 1.5 million Etihad Guest members and 21 million Air France-KLM Flying Blue frequent flyers across the combined networks.