Etihad and Kenya Airways sign codeshare agreement

Etihad Airways and Kenya Airways have signed a reciprocal codeshare agreement, providing the Abu Dhabi carrier with better connectivity throughout Africa and the Nairobi-based airline with improved international access.

Etihad will place its EY code on Kenya Airways flights from Nairobi to 27 destinations across the latter’s African network.

In turn, Kenya Airways will place its KQ code on Etihad’s daily service from Nairobi to Abu Dhabi – which it started last April – and, subject to government approval, onwards to up to 32 key destinations across Etihad’s global network.

Kenya Airways will also launch a new three-times weekly service between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi from mid-summer 2013.

The agreement paves the way for “greater collaboration between the airlines on the joint procurement of services for ground handling, line and heavy maintenance, training and cargo operations”.

Etihad has been busy expanding its network reach through equity investments and codeshare agreements with airlines such as airberlin, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Garuda, Hainan Airlines, RAK Airways and Virgin Australia.

To date, it’s flown to only a small number of points in Africa (Nairobi, Lagos, Tripoli, Casablanca and Johannesburg) and tieing up with Kenya Airways provides a missing part to the jigsaw.