Etihad strikes key deal with Qantas

SYDNEY – Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways continues to grow its footprint in Australia.

Etihad has join forces with Qantas in a strategic alliance to share reservation codes on selected flights.

The deal will give Qantas access to the growing Middle East market on 21 weekly Etihad services between Australia and Abu Dhabi.

Crucially, Qantas passengers will be able to earn frequent flyer points on 11 weekly non-stop flights from Sydney, seven non-stop weekly flights from Melbourne and three operating from Brisbane via Singapore.

Etihad gets to place its EY code on selected Qantas domestic services operating beyond the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s Australian gateway ports of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

It will also place its code in daily Qantas flights from Melbourne to Auckland.

Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said, “For the first time, Qantas will be able to offer direct access to multiple points in the Middle East from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.”

Etihad is due to the launch its new daily Melbourne service at the end of the month.

The airline recently took over naming rights to Melbourne’s Telstra Dome sporting arena, now renamed Etihad Stadium.