Hong Kong Airlines and Etihad Airways Expand Codeshare

HONG KONG, June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong Airlines, an internationally-acclaimed Skytrax 4-star airline, has expanded its codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, to provide travellers with enhanced connections between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Under the expanded codeshare agreement, Hong Kong Airlines will place its 'HX' flight code on Etihad Airways' flights between Hong Kong, the world's third most important financial centre, and Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE. Etihad Airways will commence a daily frequency on the route from 15 June 2015, offering 3,620 seats per week with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

In addition, Hong Kong Airlines will codeshare on Etihad Airways' new service between Abu Dhabi and Madrid, the capital and largest city in Spain. The route, which was launched in March 2015, is operated four times per week and offers 2,096 seats per week with a two class Airbus A330-200.

Li Dianchun, Commercial Director of Hong Kong Airlines, said: "We are glad to strengthen the partnership with Etihad Airways through a codeshare expansion. There is an increasingly strong demand in Asia for travel to the GCC region, Europe, Africa and South America. The enhanced connectivity will enable our passengers to enjoy a wider range of choices while experiencing the world-class services and products offered by both airlines."

Kevin Knight, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Etihad Airways, said: "Our codeshare agreement with Hong Kong Airlines was initiated last year with a primary focus on enhanced connectivity between Asia and the Middle East. The expanded codeshare will result in further commercial success for both airlines, and more importantly unleash the true benefits of the partnership by offering business and leisure travellers enhanced connections and a more frequent service between Asia, the Middle East and Europe."

Hong Kong Airlines and Etihad Airways initiated their codeshare agreement in December 2014, allowing Hong Kong Airlines to place its 'HX' code on Etihad Airways' service between Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, while Etihad Airways to place its 'EY' code on Hong Kong Airlines' flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok, and on flights between Hong Kong and Okinawa.

Etihad Airways will increase the frequency of its Bangkok service from three to four flights a day from 1 July 2015, with Hong Kong Airlines also codesharing on the additional flight.

Hong Kong Airlines expanded codeshare on the following Etihad Airways flights:

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time

*Effective from 16 June 2015

About Hong Kong Airlines

Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines has since grown to become an internationally-acclaimed carrier. Recognizing the warmth of its service and the quality of its onboard offerings, Hong Kong Airlines has been awarded the highly-esteemed 4-star rating from Skytrax for three consecutive years. Based in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airlines' network currently covers almost 30 cities regionally, including Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Bangkok, Bali and Okinawa. The current operating fleet has 25 aircraft with an average age of around 3 years as of February 2015, which includes three Airbus A330-300s, nine Airbus A330-200s, eight A320s and five Airbus A330-200Fs for the cargo fleet. Adhering to the concept of "Fresh and Very Hong Kong", Hong Kong Airlines is committed to "Bringing Greater Journeys Sky High", and is dedicated to providing an extraordinary flight experience to the passengers. For more information, please visit: www.hkairlines.com.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to 110 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 116 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 69 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and eight Airbus A380s.

Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline. Etihad Airways, along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, also participate in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.

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