UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways and Spanish airline Air Europa have signed a codeshare agreement, which will see both carriers significantly enhance access to and from Spain, the UAE and to destinations across globe.
Under the terms of the agreement, Air Europa plans to commence a three times a week direct service between Madrid and Abu Dhabi in late 2014.
Etihad will place its EY flight code on the new Airbus A330 operated flights, offering direct access to Madrid for the very first time through its Abu Dhabi hub.
The airlines will work together in the run-up to the route launch, with Etihad Airways initially placing its code on Air Europa-operated flights to Madrid from Amsterdam, Brussels and Milan Malpensa and beyond Madrid to Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.
In return, Air Europa will place its UX flight code on Etihad Airways flights from Amsterdam, Brussels and Milan Malpensa to Abu Dhabi.
Furthermore, during summer 2014, both airlines plan to expand the number of codeshare destinations to include new cities in Spain and South America via Madrid, and more cities beyond Abu Dhabi across the Gulf region, Africa, Asia, and Australia.