Depart from either Abu Dhabi or Dubai following an Emirates-Etihad agreement

Friday 05th May 2023 05:53 PM

Signature of the Interline Memorandum of Understanding between Emirates and Etihad. Right to left front row Adnan Kazim, CCO Emirates and Mohammad Al Bulooki, COO Etihad Airways. Second row Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline and Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad (Photo: Etihad/Emirates)

The new interline agreement between Emirates And Etihad is primarily aimed at tourist circuits. But they also have an impact on business travel. The new agreement signed in early May 2023 offers travelers additional route options by allowing a departure or arrival from Abu Dhabi as Dubai.

Great flexibility of use

The new agreement also offers travelers planning to join the two cities the flexibility of a single ticket for their entire journey. Connections to other cities in the UAE can be made on both Emirates and Etihad in a multi-city itinerary.

The agreement puts an end to the disputes that have often opposed the two companies. For Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines, ” this new agreement provides a solid basis for developing other opportunities between the two airlines. He is an example of our commitment to the UAE’s vision for continued economic diversification.“.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, underlines for his part: With two world-class airlines supporting tourism in the United Arab Emirates, our interline agreement will allow our customers to experience the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai with one ticketwhile promising an exceptional flight experience, whether they fly with Etihad Airways or Emirates“.

A Schengen-type visa in sight for the Gulf Cooperation Council

The agreement between Emirates Etihad is timely. The flexibility offered to travelers to enter and leave the UAE with either company is expected to increase. There is indeed talk of launching in the very near future a Visa valid for all countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This advice includes theSaudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. The visa would be modeled on that of the countries of the Schengen area.

The information was announced during the Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai. Fahd Hamidaddin, director general of the Saudi Tourism Authority, believes that future travelers will be more inclined to visit several countries in the same region with such a system. For the Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy, Abdullah al-Saleh, the entire Gulf region would benefit from the adoption of common regulations, policies and procedures. Such an advance would thus facilitate the growth of the economy and tourism.

The launch of this visa could be rapid and would apply to citizens of 35 countries.