Etihad signs codeshare with Scandinavian Airlines

(Image: Supplied by Etihad)

UAE national carrier Etihad Airways signed a codeshare agreement with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, this week.

The codeshare is expected to come into full service at the end of December 2023, which is when customers can book these tickets for travel from January.

Etihad said that by way of this codeshare, customers of both airlines can avail of enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other’s networks.

“The tie-in gives our guests one-stop access across Scandinavia to destinations including Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Bergen and Aarhus,” said Arik De, Etihad’s chief revenue officer.

SAS executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Paul Verhagen, added, “This partnership expands the choices available to SAS customers for journeys to Abu Dhabi and beyond, with connections to India, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and more.”

The codeshare agreement comes weeks after Etihad commenced flights to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. On 1 October, it began operating four weekly flights with its 787 Dreamliner aircraft that has 28 seats in business and 262 in economy.

This agreement between the two carriers will also see SAS partnering with the Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme. Etihad Guest members will earn miles when they fly with SAS and vice versa for EuroBonus members. This arrangement will be extended to all flights across the networks of both airlines.

One of the founding members of the Star Alliance, SAS recently announced plans to defect to SkyTeam, following a restructuring which will see Air France-KLM take a stake in the Scandinavian carrier. Under the new structure – which is subject to approval from regulatory authorities and creditors – Air France-KLM will hold approximately 19.9 per cent of the equity, with the option to take a controlling stake after two years.

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This article originally appeared on Business Traveller Middle East