Etihad Airways, Air Europa Announce Strategic Partnership To Expand Travel Options

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Spain's Air Europa are set to enter into a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing their business operations. Beginning in the summer of 2025, Etihad will increase its daily flights to Madrid, Air Europa's primary hub, offering two flights per day.

This partnership will enhance travel convenience between Abu Dhabi and Spain, while also improving connectivity between Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Passengers will benefit from smoother, more seamless travel across these key regions.

"We are in discussions to establish a strategic partnership covering a range of activities, including deepening our codeshare and frequent flyer programme, enabling both airlines to expand into new frontiers, and a potential wet lease operation with an Air Europa aircraft between Madrid and Abu Dhabi," Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial of Etihad Airways, said, according to WAM.

"Any partnership will work towards benefiting customers of both airlines, underscoring our commitment to providing our valued customers with a seamless travel experience and access to a wider network, including Air Europa's leading Latin America Network," De added.

Air Europa General Manager Richard Clark expressed excitement about expanding the airline's partnership with Etihad Airways.

He said the new operations between Madrid-Barajas and Abu Dhabi would strengthen connections between the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas through Europe while maintaining high-quality service.

Etihad and Air Europa already work together through a codeshare agreement, allowing passengers to earn and use frequent flyer miles on both airlines. This extended partnership will help Air Europa grow its presence in the Middle East and Asia by using Etihad's hub in Abu Dhabi to offer better travel connections for its passengers.

Last week, Etihad Airways announced its full-year 2024 results, reporting a profit of AED 1.7 billion (US$476 million) after tax, showing strong growth across all key areas. This was driven by AED 20.8 billion (US$5.7 billion) in passenger revenue and AED 4.2 billion (US$1.1 billion) in cargo revenue, along with massive improvements in operational efficiency.

Last year, Etihad Airways revealed its plan to spend over $7 billion by 2030 to upgrade its older Boeing 777 planes and improve its services as part of a plan to double the airline's size.