Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, and EL AL Airlines, the national carrier of Israel, recently launched their joint codeshare network and reciprocal loyalty program. It is based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) both airlines signed in 2020, in the wake of the Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel, which also includes pilot and crew training and cargo opportunities.
Starting July 18, EL AL will add its ‘LY’ code to Etihad’s twice-weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. Yet, the new partnership will extend beyond Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub, and as of August 1, it is set to include destinations in Australia, Bahrain, India, Korea, the Philippines, and Seychelles.
In the next phase of the codeshare agreement, Etihad will offer guests an additional 14 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the U.S., by adding its ‘EY’ code to EL AL flights.
“This is the first commercial partnership that EL AL has established following the Abrahamic Accords,” said Avigal Soreq, CEO, EL AL Israel Airlines. “This is an important milestone as this codeshare will bring growing benefits to our passengers and our respective airlines and countries. The EL AL and Etihad teams have a common goal in this partnership, and we look forward to seeing it grow in the future.”
This codeshare network will provide guests with greater choice, convenience, and flexibility, and the partnership will also include a reciprocal loyalty agreement. In addition, members of the Etihad Guest and Matmid programs will earn miles on flights across both carrier networks.
According to Tony Douglas, CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, “We are very pleased to be able to announce the launch of our codeshare and frequent flyer partnership with El Al. This partnership will provide additional choice and connectivity for both carriers’ guests, and a range of benefits for frequent travelers between and beyond our respective hubs in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.”
