Etihad Airways, airberlin expand partnership

Etihad Airways and airberlin unveiled an Airbus A320 aircraft in specially designed joint livery, symbolizing the close ties between the two airlines and marking the launch of a new Moving Forward media campaign.
At the event in Berlin, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, airberlin’s CEO, and James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and CEO and vice-chairman of airberlin, gave details of how air travelers will continue to benefit from the special partnership and the progress made in the first two years.
Prock-Schauer, said: “The comprehensive commercial partnership with Etihad Airways has brought many benefits to airberlin, including our shares of joint revenues of 200 million euro, which is an integral part of our turnaround program."
He added: “Partnerships are vital in today’s aviation industry. Our partnership provides significant benefits to Etihad Airways, airberlin, as well as to our guests. Not only do we provide an expanded offering of destinations and services, we also have developed synergies through the entire value chain.”

This means an increasingly attractive offer with numerous benefits for customers, and continuously improved productivity and lower costs. The positive response from our guests illustrates that we’re on the right path.”
Following the implementation of joint codesharing across the networks, both airlines will strengthen the commercial partnership in 2014. That will include the expansion of joint sales operations, building on the current services provided by 17 joint sales offices located around the world, and representation in more than 50 international markets.
airberlin’s expertise in the tourism sector, an important pillar of its business, will also continue to be central to marketing the combined network.
The developments in the commercial partnership are set to further increase the number of passengers who fly on the airberlin and Etihad Airways network, which currently serves 228 destinations in 84 countries.