Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has the inexperienced gentle from the US Division of Transportation to show JetBlue’s B6 designator code on Etihad flights from the US to Abu Dhabi and factors past. The Could 4 authorization additional strengthens a longstanding alliance between the 2 airways that started in 2014. Thus far, Etihad has put its EY code on sure JetBlue home and short-haul worldwide flights. Initially, Etihad is eyeing including JetBlue’s B6 code on its flights between Abu Dhabi and Chicago O’Hare and Abu Dhabi and New York JFK.
Etihad plans to first place JetBlue’s B6 code on New York and Chicago flights
The DOT has accredited the applying on the premise that each airways keep the required underlying authority to function the codeshare providers. Each airways argued the proposed new codeshare was permissible below the present US-UAE open skies settlement. Codeshare agreements, widespread throughout airways, are a canny approach for airways to increase their networks at minimal expense and with out utilizing their very own metallic. Within the case of this settlement, an Etihad passenger originating in Nairobi can fly to, say, Fort Lauderdale on the one ticket, switching airways in New York. Concurrently, a JetBlue passenger touring in the other way can go all the best way on a JetBlue-issued ticket.
Along with JetBlue, Etihad Airways has teamed up with greater than 20 airways to supply comparable preparations, with every of these airways sending feeder site visitors to an Etihad jet and taking site visitors off that very same airplane. It is a you scratch my again, and I will scratch yours kind deal. In Etihad’s case, accomplice airways embody Brussels Airways, Bangkok Airways, Oman Air, and SriLankan Airways. Along with JetBlue, Etihad works with American Airways within the US. Maybe not coincidentally, JetBlue and American Airways at the moment are knee-deep of their Northeast Alliance.
Etihad plans to first use the B6 designator code on its flights to New York and Chicago. Photograph: Etihad Airways
Codeshare preparations work for each airways
JetBlue’s hookups with different airways are much less in depth than Etihad’s. Along with that airline and American, JetBlue has partnership preparations of 1 kind or one other with Aer Lingus, Cape Air, Emirates, Hawaiian Airways, Icelandair, JSX, Porter Airways, Qatar, Seaborne, Silver Airways, and South African Airways – though we’re unsure how that final partnership goes given neither airline flies the US-South Africa nation pair.
Whereas generally partnership agreements like these entail a level of competitors (for instance, oneworld buddies American Airways and British Airways each fly between New York and London), largely these offers are about plugging community holes in feeder zones, filling planes, and producing income. They work properly for passengers too. Usually, codeshare preparations facilitate cheaper airline tickets, assist take the ache out of transfers at connecting airports, and infrequently allow passengers to earn and burn frequent flyer factors from airline A on flights operated by airline B.
Theoretically, Etihad can put JetBlue’s designator code on its flights past Abu Dhabi (pictured) -although it has not but proven any inclination to take action. Photograph: Etihad Airways
Whereas the JetBlue / Etihad association is hardly revolutionary, it does have one totally 2022 situation. The DOT authorization expressly forbids any airline flying with a US airline designator code from getting into, departing, or transiting the airspace of any nation or area blacklisted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Which means there will probably be no overflying of Russian airspace for any Etihad flights carrying the B6 code.