Etihad Airways and China Eastern Airlines have signed a joint-venture agreement, Etihad announced Wednesday. It is the first commercial JV between a Middle Eastern airline and Chinese airline, according to Etihad.
The agreement will allow the airlines to jointly develop and grow routes between the United Arab Emirates and China, and it is expected to be implemented in early 2025, pending regulatory clearances.
In addition, each airline during the fourth quarter will introduce reciprocal benefits between their existing frequent-flyer programs, enabling passengers to earn points and redeem rewards when flying with either carrier, according to Etihad.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines and Air China Limited have signed a new codeshare agreement, transitioning from their blocked-space partnership, Turkish Airlines announced Wednesday. The agreement initially will cover flights between Istanbul and Beijing.
