29 Jun 2015 13:30
Etihad Airways and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have signed a codeshare agreement which will provide travelers with enhanced connections between the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and beyond.
Etihad Airways will place its EY code on PIA flights between Islamabad,
Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Abu Dhabi.
In return, PIA’s PK code will be placed on Etihad Airways’ flights
between Abu Dhabi and Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore and
PK code will also be added to Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi to many of
the global destinations operated by Etihad Airways.
Flights can be booked from 30 June 2015 via travel agents or
through the airlines’ sales offices and contact centers. The first travel date will
be 27 July 2015. This will facilitate travelers with a choice of more than 70
destinations.
Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer,
said: “Our unique partner strategy has been highly successful and we are
pleased to add Pakistan International Airlines to our growing list of
successful code share partners.
“There is a long and proud history of travel between Abu Dhabi and
cities across Pakistan, and this new codeshare agreement – between the national
airlines of the UAE and Pakistan – will make that experience, as well as travel
onwards to Africa, Europe, and the United States, that much easier.”
Khurram
Mushtaq, Director Marketing of Pakistan International Airlines, said: “This is
indeed a great opportunity for PIA to join hands with Etihad Airways,
connecting Pakistan to UAE and around the globe, expanding reach to more
destinations for the convenience of valued passengers.”
Etihad Airways and PIA are also exploring options to offer members
of their respective frequent flyer programs, Etihad Guest and Awards+Plus,
reciprocal earn and burn for miles when using codeshare flights.
All passengers flying on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to
the United States are processed through the US Preclearance facility at Abu
Dhabi Airport, which means they pass through all US immigration and customs
checks in Abu Dhabi and arrive in the US as domestic passengers.