Etihad Airways and Spain’s Air Europa have launched their first wet-lease flight between Abu Dhabi and Madrid, marking the Spanish airline’s debut aircraft operation from the Middle East.
The service, operated by a Boeing 787-9, reflects the growing cooperation between the two carriers, following the expansion of their codeshare agreement and frequent flyer programme integration.
Expanded route capacity
Etihad now operates twice-daily flights to Madrid, with the afternoon EY103 flight flown by Air Europa’s 787-9 aircraft.
The plane offers 32 Business class and 307 Economy seats. The arrangement boosts seat capacity between the UAE and Spain and aims to support tourism and trade flows between the two countries.
The move also strengthens Abu Dhabi’s connectivity with Europe, giving travellers more flight options across both airlines’ combined global networks.
Strategic airline partnership
“Today marks a new chapter in our partnership with Air Europa. This collaboration demonstrates how Etihad can work with strategic partners to enhance our Madrid route and offer even greater choice for travellers between the UAE and Spain,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “By partnering with Air Europa, we’re opening exciting possibilities for our passengers seeking to explore new destinations.”
Juan José Hidalgo, President of Air Europa, said: “Partnering with Etihad Airways to launch our first Middle East service from Abu Dhabi is a major milestone for Air Europa. It allows us to better serve growing demand for travel between Spain and the UAE. Abu Dhabi is a world-class destination and an ideal platform for us to expand into new markets.”
Future cooperation plans
The new flight also lays the groundwork for future collaboration between the airlines, including potential commercial partnerships and enhanced service delivery. Etihad and Air Europa now provide access to more than 130 destinations across four continents through their networks.
The partnership supports Abu Dhabi’s strategy to strengthen its position as a business and leisure hub, while offering passengers broader access to European markets.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
