UAE’s Etihad and Bahrain’s Gulf Air to expand codeshare agreement

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has signed a Strategic Commercial Cooperation Agreement (SCCA) with Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air to broaden commercial cooperations between the two airlines.

In the first phase of the SCAA, to be implemented by June 2021, the scope of the partners’ codeshare agreement which was first signed in 2019 will be significantly expanded.

Etihad and Gulf Air will be able to offer up to an additional 30 combined destinations beyond the Abu Dhabi and Bahrain hubs, across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.

The two airlines will work together to optimise joint operations on the Abu Dhabi-Bahrain route, with improvements to network connectivity over each of the partners’ hubs.

We’re proud to strengthen our partnership with @GulfAir, offering our passengers more choices and benefits. Our strategic commercial cooperation will allow us to further broaden our collaboration. #Etihad #EtihadxGulfAir #GulfAir pic.twitter.com/3NKKhzxtTb

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) February 17, 2021

They will also enhance their respective offerings to premium tier customers of Etihad Guest and Falconflyer, including reciprocal lounge access at the hubs and enhanced recognition through a guest’s journey, regardless of the operating airline.

Additionally, the Etihad and Gulf Air two will work together to improve the customer journey on Abu Dhabi–Bahrain route, making it more seamless, regardless of the operating carrier, with enhanced and harmonised policies and products in areas such as baggage and ancillaries, Etihad said in a press statement.

Prior to the latest SCCA, the two airlines signed an MOU in 2018 which provided for exploration of MRO, pilot and crew training, and cargo opportunities, which the parties will now re-visit in light of current market opportunities and company requirements.

“We look forward to exploring pragmatic ways in which the two carriers can increasingly work seamlessly between our two capitals, enhance benefits and customer experience for our most frequent travelers and further extend the reach of our joint networks beyond our hubs,” said Tony Douglas, group CEO at Etihad Aviation Group.

Captain Waleed AlAlawi, Gulf Air’s acting CEO added: “Our relationship with Etihad Airways has always been strong and today we are reaching a higher level of collaboration with many more opportunities in the horizon between the national carriers of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. This agreement will empower both of us to offer a more elevated experience to passengers and widen their travel options.”