Etihad Airways and San Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) have signed a codeshare partnership, strengthening connectivity between Europe and the Middle East. Earlier in October, Etihad began a service between Abu Dhabi and Copenhagen: the new agreement will allow connections to other Scandinavian cities such as Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Bergen.
SAS passengers will be able to access holiday destinations on Etihad’s network such as India, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Johannesburg. Customers will now be able to book a single ticket and will only have to check in once, with their checked baggage being handled to the final destination.
«Our strategic bilateral agreement with SAS, which follows the start of our flights to Copenhagen, allows our Northern European customers to enjoy Abu Dhabi and connect to our growing global network, including our expanding destinations in the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, the Middle East and Africa,» said Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue Officer.
Members of the Etihad Guest and SAS Eurobonus frequent flyer programs will be able to earn miles and access other benefits. The codeshare will be available by the end of December 2023, customers will be able to book through both airlines’ regular channels.
This agreement comes after Air France-KLM acquired a nearly 20% stake in SAS as part of its financial restructuring under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Act. The Franco-Dutch group currently has a codeshare partnership with Etihad Airways.
The SAS and Etihad deal follows the dynamics of the Qatar Airways and Finnair partnership to increase connectivity between the Nordic region and the Middle East.
«This partnership expands the options available to SAS customers for travel to Abu Dhabi and beyond, with connections to India, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and more. We will continue to enhance international connectivity and remain committed to delivering seamless travel experiences to our customers,» said Paul Verhagen, SAS Executive, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
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