SAS, Scandinavia's leading airline, and UAE’s Etihad Airways are planning a codeshare agreement, which will enable them to offer greater connectivity to and from a number of key European cities.

The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval, will strengthen both carriers and provide customers with enhanced travel options between the two countries.

SAS is Etihad’s 47th airline partnership globally and its 22nd in Europe. For SAS, Etihad is the 23rd codeshare partner and the third with strong presence in the Middle East.

Both airlines will also develop and sign a frequent flyer agreement, which will benefit the members of both airlines’ loyalty programmes.

Kevin Knight, Etihad’s chief strategy officer, said: “This codeshare agreement with SAS will improve flight connections to Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, as well as a number of important secondary cities across Scandinavia, greatly enhancing travel options and connections for air travellers and deepening our ties with Europe and European carriers.”

The deal will see SAS place its SK code on Etihad’s flights between Abu Dhabi and Brussels (Belgium), Düsseldorf and Frankfurt (Germany), Rome and Milan (Italy), Zurich and Geneva (Switzerland), and London Heathrow (UK).

In turn, Etihad Airways will place its EY code on SAS-operated flights from these European destinations, excluding Brussels, onto SAS’ hubs in Copenhagen (Denmark), Oslo (Norway), and Stockholm (Sweden). – TradeArabia News Service