Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal have signed a codeshare agreement, the two airlines have announced this Tuesday (5). By doing so, the airlines will be able to strengthen their connectivity through their own hubs, Abu Dhabi and Lisbon respectively.
«This collaboration provides our guests with convenient one-stop access to 26 of TAP’s fantastic leisure and business destinations», stated Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue Officer, in a press release.
«Widening our network reach, allowing more guests to visit Abu Dhabi, is an important part of our strategic growth. It allows us to further reinforce Abu Dhabi’s cultural and economic development, extending a warm welcome to more guests and offering them heightened travel privileges and unforgettable experiences.»
TAP’s Chief Revenue Officer, Mario Cruz, added that «the codeshare agreement between TAP Air Portugal and Etihad adds diversity and quality to the travelling experience that both companies offer their customers. The destination networks of the two airlines complement each other through this agreement, which is part of TAP’s growth and expansion strategy. We are very pleased to have reached this partnership with Etihad.»
The airline from Abu Dhabi said, in the press release, that by joining forces with TAP via the Portuguese carrier’s hub in Lisbon, it will be able to better serve cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, as well as Miami and San Francisco in the United States. While neither of these cities are currently served by Etihad, both São Paulo and San Francisco were connected by the airline between 2014 and 2017.
Additionally, destinations like Dakar, Madeira, Málaga, Marrakech, São Tomé, Seville and Valencia were mentioned as being better connected to Etihad’s network with the new partnership.
TAP, on the other hand, will benefit from access to Etihad’s hub in Abu Dhabi. Connections to both carriers will also be available in Frankfurt and London Heathrow.
Earlier this year, Etihad has started nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Lisbon. It currently operates four weekly frequencies between the two cities, using its fleet of Boeing 787-9.
