Forging New Links

What a way to wrap up 2016.

Etihad Airways and Lufthansa German Airlines have hammered out a codeshare deal that – subject to government approval – will take off in 2017.

The two carriers also announced a wet-lease agreement between Lufthansa Group and airberlin – in which Etihad Aviation Group indirectly holds a 29%.

Lufthansa’s point-to-point carrier Eurowings and Austrian Airlines, a Lufthansa Group airline, have signed an agreement to wet lease 38 aircraft from airberlin.

Thirty-three of these aircraft are to be operated for the Eurowings Group, an additional five aircraft are to be flown for Austrian Airlines.

The agreement has a term of six years and becomes effective from February 2017 subject to any regulatory requirements. The leases have been agreed at competitive rates.

Under the codeshare agreement, the German airline will place its ‘LH’ code on Etihad Airways’ twice daily non-stop flights between its home base of Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt and its twice daily non-stop services between Abu Dhabi and Munich.

In turn, Etihad will put its ‘EY’ code on Lufthansa’s long-haul, non-stop intercontinental services between its home base of Frankfurt, the business and commercial capital of Germany, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well as Bogota, Colombia.

James Hogan, president and CEO of the Etihad Aviation Group, said, “We have long seen Germany as a key strategic market for Etihad Aviation Group and this new relationship with Lufthansa marks the next step in our commitment to be the leading European aviation group. Lufthansa is highly respected globally and I’m very pleased that we will work together in the future for the benefit of our customers.”

Hogan continued, “Additionally, we are, in our role as a minority shareholder in airberlin, fully supportive of the separate agreement reached today with the Lufthansa Group to wet lease 38 airberlin aircraft. It is very clear to us at Etihad Airways that Lufthansa is a like-minded, forward thinking organization with which we can do strong, meaningful and mutually beneficial business.”

Carsten Spohr, chairman of the board and CEO, Lufthansa Group said of the deal, “We are looking forward to partnering with the Etihad Aviation Group. The wet-lease contract with airberlin fosters the growth of our Eurowings Group.”

And Spohr pointed out that, “The codeshare agreement of Lufthansa and Etihad will offer our customers more benefits and complement both airlines’ networks. We will consider extending our co-operation in other areas.”

For more, go to http://www.etihad.com or to http://www.LH.com.