Etihad Airways gains regulator approval for American Airlines codeshare

Etihad has announced that travellers in the UAE now have greater access to the American market, following regulatory approval for a new codeshare agreement between it and American Airlines.

The new codeshare agreement comes into effect this week and coincides with the launch of Etihad’s flights to Chicago on September 2.

Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on a number of transatlantic services operated by the US carrier between Europe and the United States, as well as selected domestic services operated by American Airlines beyond New York and Chicago.

In turn American Airlines will place its own ‘AA’ code on services operated by Etihad Airways between Abu Dhabi and New York, Chicago, Paris, Dublin, Frankfurt, Manchester and Milan.

The American Airlines domestic routes within the US covered by the new codeshare arrangement will initially include flights between New York and Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as flights between Chicago and Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston.

The transatlantic services include American Airlines flights between: Paris and Boston, Chicago, Miami; Dublin and Chicago; Frankfurt and Dallas/Fort Worth; Manchester and Chicago; and Milan and New York.

Customers transferring between the two carriers will be able to purchase a single ticket for their journey and enjoy the convenience of being able to check in their luggage to their ultimate destination.

Etihad Airways currently flies to two destinations in North America: New York and Toronto in Canada.

The Chicago route will be served initially three times a week and will increase to six flights per week November 1, before becoming a daily service from January 1 next year.