Etihad Airways and China Eastern Airlines have signed a codeshare deal which will see the airlines cooperate on flights between Abu Dhabi and China.
The agreement will initially see the Chinese carrier place its MU code on Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi to Shangai.
However, the carriers have plans to expand the cooperation further down the line with China Eastern to place its code on Etihad flights to destinations beyond its network and Etihad will codeshare on China Eastern domestic services beyond its Shanghai hub.
Etihad president and chief executive James Hogan described the agreement as a “win-win” for both businesses and travellers alike.
“It expands our networks in a commercially viable and mutually beneficial way, and offers our customers more choice of destinations, schedules and loyalty benefits.”
It builds on its Memorandum of Understanding with the Shanghai-based airline, settled in March.
Reciprocal benefits such as frequent flyer points will also be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The new services go on sale on August 30.
