Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways are taking their partnership to the next level. Today, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost their collaboration in various areas. These include passenger operations, loyalty programs, talent development, and maintenance. The signing event happened at the Air France-KLM headquarters in Paris, with key officials from both airlines present.
Expanding Codeshare and Interline Agreements
The MoU paves the way for both airlines to expand their codeshare and interline agreements, which originally started in 2012. Effective immediately, travelers can book more than 40 new routes. These routes cover destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Australia and are available for travel starting in the winter of 2023.
Another highlight of the MoU is the benefit it brings to frequent flyers. Members of both Flying Blue and Etihad Guest can now earn and redeem miles when flying with Air France, KLM, and Etihad. But that’s not all. The airlines are also considering sharing terminal locations, offering reciprocal lounge access, and collaborating on ground handling services.
Etihad already offers daily flights from Abu Dhabi International Airport to both Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol. Starting October 29, 2023, Air France will also operate daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport.
What the Executives Are Saying
Angus Clarke, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air France-KLM, expressed his enthusiasm about the expanded partnership. He emphasized the value of Abu Dhabi as both a destination and a hub, thanks to Etihad’s extensive network in South and Southeast Asia as well as Australia.
Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad, echoed Clarke’s sentiments. He highlighted how the MoU will improve connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Paris. It will also leverage the extensive Air France-KLM network to Europe and beyond.
The new MoU between Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways aims to enhance their collaboration in multiple areas. From expanding route options to offering perks for frequent flyers, the partnership promises to offer a more seamless and customer-centric travel experience.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
