New Codeshare Agreement Announced between Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines
Launching New Routes
On Monday, Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines unveiled a fresh codeshare agreement as part of an extensive strategy to establish a joint venture that was initially disclosed in March 2025. Starting from July 15, Ethiopian Airlines will introduce flights linking Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Subsequently, Etihad will commence daily flights to Addis Ababa beginning on October 8.
Expanded Travel Opportunities
The codeshare arrangement allows travelers to book a unified travel itinerary with a single check-in and baggage transfer, providing access to over 75 destinations within both airlines’ networks. This collaboration enables Etihad’s passengers to reach Ethiopian’s African destinations such as Kigali, Harare, Lusaka, and Victoria Falls. Likewise, Ethiopian travelers can connect through Abu Dhabi to major Etihad destinations, including Colombo, Krabi, Sydney, and Phnom Penh.
Enhanced Connectivity
Arik De, Etihad’s chief revenue and commercial officer, expressed, “This partnership creates seamless travel options between Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.”
Progressing Towards a Joint Venture
The codeshare marks an initial step in the more enriching joint venture plan between the airlines. As Etihad’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves shared in an earlier interview this year, the partnership is set to evolve from a mere codeshare to full-scale joint operations. In a joint venture, both airlines share revenues equally, without limitations on the number of seats each can sell on the other’s flights. “We are expediting the partnership so customers can benefit sooner,” Neves emphasized.
Neves also highlighted that this agreement aligns with Etihad’s larger strategy of enhancing global connections. “We can offer expanded travel choices to Africa for our customers, while Ethiopian’s clients gain access to our broad network.”
Ethiopian Airlines: A Leading African Carrier
Ethiopian Airlines stands as Africa’s largest air carrier by passengers, fleet size, and destinations. Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines’ Group CEO, hailed the collaboration as “a significant step in enhancing connectivity across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.” He added that Abu Dhabi will serve as the airline’s third destination in the UAE, alongside Dubai and Sharjah.
A Year of Growth for Etihad
This deal arrives following a prosperous year for Etihad. In 2024, the airline recorded a profit after tax of Dhs1.7bn ($476m) from a total revenue of Dhs25.3bn ($6.9bn), with a 32% increase in passenger numbers reaching 18.5 million. Etihad expanded its flight offerings by over 1,700 weekly services and introduced 20 new destinations, including Boston, Jaipur, Bali, and Nairobi, alongside acquiring 12 additional aircraft to its fleet.