ETIHAD Airways and RAK Airways have signed an agreement to codeshare on five flight sectors including, for the first time, domestic flights in the UAE. The agreement, the first ever between two UAE carriers, will see Etihad Airways place its ‘EY' code on the RAK Airways flight between Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi. In return, RAK Airways will place its ‘RT' code on Etihad Airways routes, which initially includes flights between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, Manchester, Dublin, Bangkok and Geneva. RAK Airways operation between Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi will commence on Oct. 3. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are proud to welcome RAK Airways, a fellow UAE airline, as a codeshare partner. This is the first time Etihad Airways will have its ‘EY' code on a domestic UAE flight which is an exciting milestone for us. “We look forward to welcoming air travellers through Abu Dhabi and onto international flights across the Etihad Airways network." John Brayford, RAK Airways' Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to announce our code share agreement with Etihad Airways, which has followed many months of consultation and collaboration between our two companies." “For an airline of the quality and prestige of Etihad Airways to choose RAK Airways as a code share partner shows how far RAK Airways has advanced since its re-launch in 2010 and is testament to the hard work of all our staff and the loyalty of our customers. “At RAK Airways, we believe in putting the customer at the centre of everything we do and, with this exciting partnership, we are able to offer residents of Ras Al Khaimah and the Northern Emirates a much wider choice of destinations and also, for the first time, a direct link to the capital city Abu Dhabi." In addition to the codeshare with RAK Airways, Etihad Airways has 37 other codeshare agreements in place with airlines across the world. Codeshare partnerships, along with equity acquisitions and organic growth, form the three pillars of Etihad Airways expansion plans. – SG
