Etihad and Air New Zealand Formalise Codeshare

ETIHAD AIRWAYS is to continue to build its presence in Australasia with the signing of an extensive codeshare agreement with AIR NEW ZEALAND. The new codeshare services will go on sale from the end of February 2011, subject to regulatory approvals, with travel from the start of the Northern Summer schedule at the end of March. The agreement will integrate Air New Zealand Airpoints and Etihad’s Etihad Guest loyalty programs, enabling customers able to earn and spend miles on each other’s flights.

The deal will see Etihad’s ‘EY’ code placed on Air New Zealand flights between Sydney and the cities of Christchurch, Rotorua, Wellington and Queenstown, between Brisbane and Auckland; Brisbane and Christchurch; Beijing and Auckland and flights into Melbourne from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand will place its 'NZ' code on all Etihad’s flights to London Heathrow, and its eleven flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, three flights a week to Brisbane, seven flights a week to Melbourne and three flights a week from Beijing to Abu Dhabi.