Ras Al Khaimah, UAE-based RAK Airways has signed a codeshare deal with Etihad Airways covering six routes, including the former's first domestic services.
The agreement will see Etihad place its code on RAK-operated flights between Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, which commence on 3 October.
In return, RAK will add its code to Etihad-operated services from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow, Manchester, Dublin, Bangkok and Geneva.
RAK Airways chief executive John Brayford says the deal follows "many months of consultation and collaboration" between the two UAE carriers.
"For an airline of the quality and prestige of Etihad Airways to choose RAK Airways as a codeshare partner shows how far RAK Airways has advanced since its re-launch in 2010," he adds.
Ras Al Khaimah grounded RAK in 2009, but the emirate re-launched the airline the following year with a new management team.
Following the latest deal, Etihad has a total of 38 codeshare partners. The Abu Dhabi flag carrier focusses on building bilateral relationships in order to gain ground on its older, larger rivals in the expanding Gulf aviation market.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
