The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approved the reauthorisation of Eithad Airways‘ commercial cooperation agreement with Virgin Australia for a further five years.
Both airlines will continue codesharing on the Australia – Abu Dhabi route and offer reciprocal lounge and frequent flyer benefits beyond the current authorisation’s expiry date of 25 February 2016.
The partnership between both airlines gives customers access to a combined network of 89 codeshare destinations, including 39 international destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Pakistan and 52 in Australia.
The cooperation also extends to sales and marketing, purchasing and procurement, flight and cabin crew secondments and reciprocal benefits to frequent flyers including access to airport lounges across their combined networks.
Etihad Airways has a 24.2% stake in Virgin Australia Holdings and holds a seat on the Virgin Australia board.