Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, and Kuwaiti flag carrier Kuwait Airways have signed a codeshare partnership on selected services on bookings effective December 22, for travel from January 5, 2020.

Subject to regulatory approvals, Etihad Airways will place its 'EY' code on Kuwait Airways operated flights from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, Najaf and Dhaka.

In turn, Kuwait Airways will place its ‘KU’ code on Etihad flights from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi, Belgrade, Casablanca, Rabat, Khartoum, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Male in the Maldives, and Mahe in Seychelles.

Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: "This is a great first step in what we hope will be a mutually beneficial and growing relationship between Kuwait Airways, one of the region’s oldest and most experienced airlines, and Etihad, one of its youngest and most acclaimed. The joint network and product advantages of our codeshare collaboration with Kuwait Airways will create tangible benefits for our customers, building on the strong relationship between our two nations, while providing greater convenience and superior in-flight service and hospitality."

"Additionally, it gives Etihad unprecedented access to important markets not served by Etihad, particularly to Iraq and Bangladesh, where we have significant point-to-point and transfer traffic, and complements our existing services to cities such as Istanbul, enabling us to now offer flights to the city’s secondary gateway,” he said.

Kamel Al-Awadhi, chief executive officer of Kuwait Airways, said: "We welcome Etihad as a codeshare partner. This new partnership will bring enhanced connectivity and increased convenience to our customers, who can expect the same level of impeccable service that they receive from our airline when they travel on codeshare flights to and from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi and beyond."

The agreement will support Kuwait Airways and Etihad operations between our two capital cities and provide more travel options beyond both gateways. The codeshare partnership will give customers the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using one reservation, guaranteeing a seamless experience throughout their entire journey. Passengers and travel agents will be able to book directly on these flights through our website and agents’ reservations systems. Furthermore, this codeshare partnership will not only enhance the relationship between the two airlines but also the strong relationship between the two brotherly states of Kuwait and the UAE," Al-Awadhi added.

Etihad Airways currently operates five return daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, and Kuwait Airways serves Abu Dhabi with a daily service. - TradeArabia News Service