Emirates and TAP announce commercial cooperation

Emirates and TAP Portugal have announced the start of a reciprocal codeshare agreement enabling passengers from both airlines to benefit from seamless connections effective from December 21st 2012.

The reciprocal codeshare will permit customers to enjoy the convenience of a single combined ticket for Emirates and TAP Portugal-operated flights, in addition to linking Emirates’ frequent flyer programme, Skywards, and TAP’s Victoria frequent flyer programme. The new codeshare services are available for sale today, with travel from 21st December 2012.

Under the agreement, Emirates’ flight number will be placed on TAP services from Lisbon to Porto, Faro and Funchal in Portugal as well as Seville, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. TAP will place its code and flight number on several Emirates’ services between Lisbon and Dubai, to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

“Europe is a strategic market for Emirates with a strong level of growth and customer engagement in 2012. This new codeshare agreement with TAP is another key element in our expansion plan across the region. In addition to convenient connections, the reciprocal frequent flyer agreement offers additional benefits for our valued Skywards members by enabling them to earn and redeem their Skywards Miles when flying with TAP,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice president, passenger sales worldwide.

“Both airlines are well positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for business and leisure travel between Portugal and the UAE, as well as points beyond our Dubai hub in the Middle and Far East. TAP is the leading airline in Portugal and we look forward to growing this relationship as we continue on our strong growth trajectory.”

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “Emirates is further expanding its European reach through TAP - a carrier that is a lot weaker but that has decent connections across the EU.

“Emirates has been keen to use codeshares without equity buys to strengthen its passenger growth and at the same time, TAP will benefit from connections in Dubai to more GCC countries than if it had to expand on its own.”