Etihad Airways and El Al Signed Codeshare Deal

Etihad Airways and El Al have signed a codeshare deal that includes a reciprocal loyalty program for frequent travelers.

From 18th July, the Israeli carrier will add its LY code to Etihad’s existing twice-weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.

From 1st August, the new agreement will extend beyond Etihad’s Abu Dhabi base to destinations in Australia, Bahrain, India, Korea, the Philippines, and Seychelles.

In a later phase, Etihad will add its ‘EY’ code to El Al flights, expanding its network to 14 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States, subject to government and regulatory permissions.

Members of the Etihad Guest and Matmid loyalty programs will be able to earn and redeem miles on flights across both carriers’ networks thanks to a reciprocal loyalty arrangement.

The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding reached by the airlines in 2020, following the signing of the Abraham Accords by the UAE and Israel.

Tony Douglas, CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are very pleased to be able to announce the launch of our codeshare and frequent flyer partnership with El Al. This partnership will provide additional choice and connectivity for both carriers’ guests, and a range of benefits for frequent travelers between and beyond our respective hubs in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.”

CEO of El Al, Avigal Soreq also said: “This is an important milestone as this codeshare will bring growing benefits to our passengers and to our respective airlines and countries. The EL AL and Etihad teams have a common goal in this partnership, and we look forward to seeing it grow in the future.”