Etihad Airways and EL AL have launched a joint codeshare network and reciprocal loyalty agreement for frequent flyers. The codeshare partnership builds on a MoU signed between the airlines in 2020 following the Abraham Accords signed by the UAE and Israel.
On Thursday (July 1st, 2021), Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, announced the signing of a strategic codeshare agreement with EL AL Israel Airlines, the national carrier of Israel. The airlines have launched a joint codeshare network and have signed a reciprocal loyalty agreement for frequent flyers. The expanded partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the carriers in 2020, following the historic Abraham Accords signed by the UAE and Israel.
Speaking on the new codeshare partnership, Etihad Airways Group’s Chief Executive, Tony Douglas, said,
“We are very pleased to be able to announce the launch of our codeshare and frequent flyer partnership with El Al. This partnership will provide additional choice and connectivity for both carriers’ guests, and a range of benefits for frequent travelers between and beyond our respective hubs in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.”
Also commenting on the partnership, EL AL Israel Airlines’ Chief Executive Officer, Avigal Soreq, said,
“This is the first commercial partnership that EL AL has established following the Abrahamic Accords. This is an important milestone as this codeshare will bring growing benefits to our passengers and to our respective airlines and countries. The EL AL and Etihad teams have a common goal in this partnership, and we look forward to seeing it grow in the future.”
From July 18, 2021, El AL will add their ‘LY’ code to Etihad’s existing twice weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. Starting August 1st, the codeshare will extend beyond Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub to include destinations in Australia, Bahrain, India, Korea, the Philippines and the Seychelles. During the next phase of the codeshare partnership, Etihad will offer guests an additional 14 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the U.S. by adding their ‘EY’ code to EL AL flights.
In a separate press release on Thursday (July 1st, 2021), Etihad Airways announced the launch of three weekly flights to Phuket, Thailand. The airline operated the first international post-pandemic flight to Thailand on Thursday with Etihad Airways flight EY430 landing in Phuket at 11:00. The flight was greeted at Phuket International Airport with a traditional water cannon salute.
Speaking on the carrier’s return to Phuket, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Cargo, Martin Drew, said,
“Etihad’s return to Phuket is a fantastic step forward as we reopen a very popular holiday destination for travellers from the UAE, and we’re proud to be the first international flight to arrive since the pandemic halted travel last year. Holiday makers from Europe and further afield can also easily connect through Abu Dhabi and on to Phuket, and can enjoy the benefits of flying in safety and comfort on Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.”
Etihad has extended their ‘Verified to Fly’ travel document initiative, which allows travelers to validate their COVID-19 documents prior to arrival at the airport. Customers can access the service by visiting Etihad.com and choosing the ‘Manage my Booking’ option. After submitting the required documents, customers will receive confirmation once they have been approved in accordance with government requirements.
Source: Etihad Airways