Etihad-South African Airways Become Codeshare & Interline Partners

Etihad Airways and South African Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to engage in a codeshare and interline partnership.

According to the agreement, Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on flights from Johannesburg to 10 South African Airways destinations across South Africa and the African continent as well as South America.

In return South African Airways will place its ‘SA’ code on 12 of Etihad Airways’ global routes flying from Abu Dhabi, the carrier’s home base.

The partnership also makes provision for passengers to earn and redeem miles through the airlines’ frequent flyer programmes.

Additionally the agreement allows code sharing to more cities in the future while facilitating closer partnership among the airlines’ in procurement, maintenance and training.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and CEO, said, “This strategy, of working closely with partner airlines to serve secondary cities in a market, has been highly successful for Etihad Airways around the world and we look forward to build upon our already strong relationship with the team at South African Airways to extend our footprint in the strategically critical African market.”

Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA’s acting CEO, said: “This extensive commercial agreement will enable SAA to access the vast majority of Etihad Airways global markets. We are pleased to build upon the commercial areas of the agreement which are fundamental to a modern airline partnership.”

Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on South African Airways’ flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, as well as to Livingston, Lusaka, Ndola, Harare, and Victoria Falls. Outside the African continent Etihad Airways will place its code on South African Airways’ flights to Sao Paulo.

The South African Airways will place its ‘SA’ code on the Etihad Airways flights between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi, as well as on flights to 12 cities on Etihad Airways’ worldwide network that includes destinations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Etihad Airways has also signed a partnership agreement with Kenya Airways, placing the “EY” code on 27 Kenya Airways destinations across East and Central Africa.