PHOTO: Executives from Etihad and airberlin gather in front of an especially liveried jet. (photo courtesy airberlin Etihad)

Airberlin and Etihad Discuss Expanded Partnership

Etihad Airways is expanding its partnership with airberlin, which includes the unveiling of a joint livery aircraft. The two airlines unveiled an Airbus A320 aircraft in specially designed joint livery, symbolizing their close ties and marking the launch of a new Moving Forward campaign.

At an 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 travelers will continue to benefit from the special partnership and the progress made in the first two years.

“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," Prock-Schauer said.

"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 code sharing 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.

“Since the launch of the partnership two years ago, commercial ties between Etihad Airways and airberlin have deepened significantly," Hogan said. "This has increased the destinations and flight options for guests and enabled both airlines to carry nearly 900,000 guests across the two networks."

The new joint “Moving Forward” media campaign will run until March 2014 and will see the new partnership logo of the two airlines featured in advertising and marketing across Germany. airberlin and Etihad Airways operate 42 weekly flights between destinations in Germany and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This will increase to 49 weekly flights in February when a second daily Munich flight commences.

In 2013, 563,000 common codeshare passengers flew across the two networks, a 74 percent increase on the previous year. Currently, 66 airberlin routes carry Etihad Airways’ EY code and 33 Etihad Airways’ routes carry airberlin’s AB flight code. According to Prock-Schauer the joint route network with Etihad will offer airberlin passengers new codeshare destinations in India, Australia and South Korea.

Lufthansa Begins Selling Seat Reservations Through Amadeus 

A new agreement between Amadeus and Lufthansa will have the airline selling advanced seat reservations as an ancillary product in the travel agency channel using Amadeus Airline Ancillary Services.

The agreement, which also applies to Lufthansa’s subsidiary Austrian Airlines means that travel agents using Amadeus in 63 markets worldwide will be able to book advanced seat reservations in Economy Class for travelers flying on domestic and European routes.

Additionally, passengers will be able to purchase seats offering extra leg room both on continental and intercontinental routes.

Travel agents will be able to reserve the traveler’s preferred seat in advance for an additional fee, which will vary depending on whether they select a standard seat or an exit row seat with its additional legroom. Passengers without an advance seat reservation are able to choose their seat free of charge only at check-in.

By launching the advance seat reservation product worldwide in the travel agency channel, the two flag carriers will be embracing a multi-channel approach to merchandising with Amadeus. Both airlines use Electronic Miscellaneous Documents, the IATA standard solution for fulfilling bookings for ancillary services.

To date, 78 airlines have signed-up to the Amadeus Airline Ancillary Services solution, of which 22 are currently distributing their ancillary services through travel agents in 63 markets.

Delta to Relaunch JFK Malaga Service in June

Delta will recommence JFK-Malaga nonstop service on June 6, offering nearly 2,000 weekly seats to and from the U.S. The flight will initially operate four times weekly in June increasing to five times weekly in July in conjunction with Delta’s joint venture partner Air France KLM.

Delta’s flight from Malaga features 15 seats in BusinessElite, with passengers receiving a five course meal with wines chosen by Sommelier, Andrea Robinson.

Customers flying in Economy Comfort, Delta’s premium economy service, benefit from up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 percent more recline than Delta’s standard international Economy class seats, as well as priority boarding.

Delta’s new JFK Terminal 4 is part of a $1.4 billion project to create a modern international gateway. Other product initiatives being rolled out across Delta’s international fleet include the expansion of Wi-Fi service by the end of 2015.

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