Etihad Airways and Air Europa Forge Enhanced Strategic Partnership

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Spain's Air Europa have announced plans to deepen their strategic partnership, aiming to enhance commercial and operational ties. This collaboration is set to provide travellers with expanded choices, superior services, and increased value.

As part of this initiative, Etihad will increase its flights to twice daily to Air Europa’s hub in Madrid starting from the summer of 2025, facilitating seamless connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Spain. This move is poised to strengthen links between Europe and Latin America, as well as the Middle East and Asia, offering travellers more comprehensive travel options across these vital regions.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, highlighted the significance of this development, stating that discussions are underway to establish a strategic partnership encompassing various activities. These include deepening the existing codeshare and frequent flyer programmes, enabling both airlines to explore new markets, and a potential wet lease operation with an Air Europa aircraft operating between Madrid and Abu Dhabi. De emphasised that any partnership would aim to benefit customers of both airlines, reinforcing their commitment to providing a seamless travel experience and access to a broader network, particularly Air Europa’s extensive Latin American routes.

Richard Clark, General Manager of Air Europa, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded partnership, noting that initiating operations between Madrid-Barajas and Abu Dhabi will extend their reach to the Middle East and Asia. This expansion opens more possibilities to connect these regions to the Americas via Europe, while maintaining high standards of quality.

Currently, Etihad and Air Europa maintain a partnership that includes bilateral codesharing and allows members of their frequent flyer programmes to earn and redeem miles on each other's flights. The proposed enhancement of this collaboration is expected to solidify Air Europa’s presence in the Middle East and Asia, leveraging Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub to unlock greater connectivity for its customers.

In a related development, Etihad Airways has unveiled its summer 2025 schedule, featuring double-daily flights to several major European cities. The enhanced schedule, now open for booking, offers increased flight frequencies and convenient 2 pm departures to destinations including Paris, Milan, Rome, Manchester, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Barcelona, and Madrid. Seasonal flights to Malaga will also increase to five times per week, providing travellers with greater flexibility for their summer plans.

The new daily European flights are strategically timed for morning and evening departures and arrivals, offering travellers the flexibility to choose schedules that best suit their needs. This initiative is part of Etihad’s commitment to growth and supporting tourism in Abu Dhabi. By aligning the schedule to offer 2 pm departures from Abu Dhabi, guests are provided with convenient check-out times from their hotels, allowing them to maximise their stay in the city.

Beyond Europe, Etihad is also enhancing its global network with additional flights to key destinations. Daily flights to Bali will be introduced for the summer season, responding to significant customer demand, and services to Sydney will increase to ten flights per week. These expansions underscore Etihad’s dedication to offering remarkable travel experiences and supporting tourism growth in Abu Dhabi.

As a leading global hub, Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position with Etihad’s expanded schedule, offering smooth connections to key destinations worldwide. Ongoing strategic enhancements in the timetable ensure that passengers enjoy a more seamless and convenient travel experience.