The UAE’s Etihad Airways and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) have officially signed a strategic codeshare agreement, marking a significant milestone in boosting connectivity for travellers across their respective networks.
Under the partnership, customers of both Etihad Airways and SAS will enjoy the convenience of booking a single ticket, simplifying their travel experience. Passengers will only need to check in once at the commencement of their journey, with the added benefit of their baggage being seamlessly transferred to their final destination.
Etihad Airways, Scandinavian Airlines partnership
Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the alliance, saying, “Our strategic bilateral agreement with SAS, following the launch of our flights to Copenhagen, opens up new possibilities for travellers from Northern Europe to explore Abu Dhabi. It also facilitates easy connections to our expanding global network, encompassing a myriad of destinations in the Indian Sub-Continent, East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.”
De further emphasized, “This collaboration grants our passengers effortless access to Scandinavian cities such as Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Bergen, and Aarhus. It is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Abu Dhabi’s cultural and economic growth by offering visitors an enriched travel experience and expanded opportunities.”
Paul Verhagen, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, also voiced his contentment, stating, “We are thrilled to introduce this new codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways. This partnership opens up an array of options for SAS customers travelling to Abu Dhabi and beyond, with onward connections to destinations such as India, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and more. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our customers with seamless travel experiences and expanding our international connectivity.”
Codeshare agreement
The codeshare agreement reinforces the already strong relationship between Etihad and SAS, which includes collaboration within the Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme. This means that Etihad Guest members will now earn miles on SAS flights, and reciprocally, EuroBonus members will accrue miles on Etihad Airways flights. This mutual benefit extends to all flights within both airline networks.
The full implementation of the codeshare is scheduled for the end of December 2023.
Travellers will be able to make bookings across Etihad’s various sales channels, including Etihad.com and travel agencies, for travel starting in January. This partnership promises a more seamless and efficient travel experience for passengers exploring the diverse offerings of both Etihad Airways and SAS.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
