Emirates, Air Canada sign strategic agreement to set up codeshare partnership

Emirates and Air Canada have signed a strategic partnership agreement, aiming to establish a codeshare alliance later this year.

This agreement will offer ease of travel for Air Canada customers visiting the UAE and going beyond Dubai. Emirates customers will enjoy the same when travelling to Toronto or to key destinations across Air Canada’s network.

Customers will have the ability to book connecting travel between both airlines’ networks with a single ticket, enjoy seamless connectivity at the carriers’ respective global hubs with baggage transfers to their final destinations.

Sir Tim Clark, president Emirates Airline said: “This is a significant partnership that will enable our customers access to even more destinations in Canada and the Americas, via our Toronto and US gateways. It also opens up many new route combinations for travellers across Emirates’ and Air Canada’s extensive networks in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.”

“As we continue pursuing our strategy of expanding our global reach in response to growing opportunities in VFR markets (visit friends and relatives) that serve Canada’s large multicultural communities, we are very pleased to form a strategic partnership with Emirates, a highly respected flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates with a hub in the vibrant city of Dubai. This strategic agreement will create network synergies, and Air Canada customers will have additional, convenient options when travelling between Canada and the United Arab Emirates as well as destinations beyond Dubai” said Michael Rousseau, president and CEO at Air Canada. “We look forward to introducing Air Canada codeshare service on key Emirates flights, as well as adding the ‘EK’ code on select Air Canada flights, and welcoming Emirates customers on our services later this year.”

The carriers will also establish reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and reciprocal lounge access for qualifying customers. Details of the partnership and specific codeshare routes will be announced when finalised and will be subject to regulatory approvals and final documentation.

In other news, Emirates launched services to Tel Aviv on June 23, marking the airline’s first passenger flight to Israel.

Read: Dubai’s Emirates takes off to Tel Aviv, marks airline’s first passenger flight to Israel