UAE's Etihad, New York's JetBlue announce codeshare plans

Abu Dhabi, Jan 22 (IANS/WAM) Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and New York-based budget airline JetBlue Airways Wednesday announced plans to begin codeshare operations and provide customers with enhanced travel options worldwide.

The agreement, which is subject to government approval, will see Etihad Airways place its EY code on JetBlue-operated flights, initially facilitating connections between the two airlines at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington's Dulles International Airport (IAD).

In the first stage of the partnership, Etihad Airways will code-share on 40 JetBlue routes within the US.

Further codeshare services are planned on JetBlue flights once Etihad Airways commences daily flights to Los Angeles from June this year.

Subject to US and foreign government approval, Etihad Airways also plans to codeshare on JetBlue flights between New York and select destinations in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Colombia.

"Like JetBlue, Etihad Airways has quickly established itself as a premier brand built on excellent service and a high-quality product," said Robin Hayes, JetBlue's president.

"We look forward to partnering more closely with the airline and affording our customers access to some of the world's most fascinating destinations," he added.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer, said that The US was a major market for Etihad Airways and this partnership with JetBlue would enable his airline to offer its customers more options for travel within and beyond the U.S..

"In addition to New York and Washington, we also fly daily to Chicago. Just last week, we also announced a second daily flight between our hub, Abu Dhabi, and New York City, and we will start flights to Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth in June and December this year," Hogan said.

From its US gateways of Chicago, New York and Washington DC, Etihad Airways offers connections through its Abu Dhabi hub to dozens of destinations across the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Asia and Australia.

--IANS/WAM

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