DUBAI — Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways are expanding their interline agreement to provide travellers with more itinerary options when visiting the UAE.

The two airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the first of its kind agreement between the two UAE carriers, at the recent Arabian Travel Market to boost tourism to the UAE from key source markets. 

As part of the agreement, passengers of each airline will be able to purchase a single ticket to fly into either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, with a seamless return via the other airport. The agreement also provides travellers with the flexibility of one-stop ticketing for their full journey as well as convenient baggage check-in.

In the initial stages of the expanded interline, each carrier will focus on attracting visitors to the UAE by developing inbound interline traffic from select points in Europe and China. The ‘open jaw’ arrangement will allow visitors to cover as much ground as possible when exploring Abu Dhabi, Dubai or any other emirate, saving time by removing the need to fly home via their arrival airport. 

Customers travelling into the UAE also have the option of multi-city flights, with the choice to travel from one city on both carriers’ networks and conveniently returning to another point served by either Emirates or Etihad. 

This marks the second time the two airlines have collaborated. In 2018, Emirates Group Security and Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) signed an MoU to strengthen aviation security, including the sharing of information and intelligence in operational areas both within and outside the UAE.

“We are pleased to be working again with Etihad Airways, this time to allow each carrier to offer a new range of seamless travel options in and out of the UAE,” said Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline. “Emirates and Etihad are leveraging on our strengths to expand our respective customer offerings and boost UAE tourism.”

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways, added: “With two world-class airlines supporting UAE tourism, our interline agreement will make it more convenient for our guests to experience the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai on one single ticket while promising to deliver an exceptional flying experience whether they fly with Etihad Airways or Emirates. It’s a win-win proposition for travellers to the UAE.”