In a move set to strengthen the ties between two of the world’s leading airlines, Air France-KLM Group and Etihad Airways inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their collaboration across various domains including passenger operations, loyalty programs, talent development, and maintenance.
The significant ceremony was conducted at Air France-KLM Group’s headquarters in Paris, graced by Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer of Air France-KLM, and Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer of Etihad Airways.
With its roots in a codeshare and interline agreement from 2012, this partnership, pending regulatory approvals, paves the way for over 40 new routes covering Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Australia. For travel enthusiasts, these routes are already up for booking, targeting the winter season of 2023.
Besides expanding their route network, the MoU envisions enhanced privileges for their loyal flyers. Members of both Flying Blue and Etihad Guest can now accumulate and utilize miles across Air France, KLM, and Etihad. Additionally, the airlines are set to delve into opportunities around terminal co-location, mutual lounge access, and joint ground handling.
Currently, Etihad has daily operations linking Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol with Abu Dhabi International Airport. From October 29, 2023, Air France is poised to offer daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Reflecting on this momentous occasion, Angus Clarke said, “This collaboration with Etihad Airways is a significant step as we enhance our global route network. Abu Dhabi’s allure as both a hub and destination, complemented by Etihad’s impressive outreach, adds immense value to our partnership.”
Arik De echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of enhancing customer experiences and boosting connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Paris, thereby accentuating Abu Dhabi’s cultural and economic momentum.
This MoU follows Air France-KLM’s earlier announcement this year, marking a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism to bolster connectivity between Europe and Abu Dhabi.
