Etihad to codeshare with Yemen Airways

Under the deal, which comes into effect on 1 June, Etihad Airways customers will have access to Yemen Airways flights between Sanaa in Yemen and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Etihad will put its two-letter 'EY' code on all three of the weekly return services operated between the two capital cities.

It comes as the two airlines seek to strengthen their relationship. Seat bookings will be available from mid-May.

A key benefit of the new codeshare arrangements will be convenient two-way connections to several key destinations on Etihad's global route network, including Bahrain, Muscat, Amman, Kuwait and Dammam in the GCC, Cochin (Kochi) and Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) in India, Johannesburg in South Africa and Paris in France.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "This agreement not only opens up the Yemeni market to our own customers but also gives Yemen-based air travellers access to our own expanding global network.

"By entering into codeshare agreements like this, we continue to attract more air travellers onto our network where they can sample our award-winning products and services."

Yemen Airways, the country's national airline, was established in 1961. It operates a fleet of 18 aircraft and flies to 30 destinations within the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Europe and Asia.

Etihad currently has seven other codeshare agreements with Saudi Arabia Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Philippine Airlines, Middle East Airlines and UK-based airline, bmi.