Spring 2013 is a busy time for Etihad Airways, which is extending and densifying its network of partnerships: a few days after making official its acquisition of a stake in the Indian carrier Jet Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has announced an enhanced codeshare agreement with Air France from next summer. Specifically, Air France will use its code on Etihad's daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Khartoum (Sudan), in addition to services to Melbourne Sydney. Flights to Singapore, Brisbane and even Kathmandu should also be affected. In return, Etihad will use its code on Air France flights between Paris-CDG and Oslo and Stockholm, as well as to Lisbon and Marseille, subject to the approval of the relevant authorities. "Our strategic partnership with Etihad Airways is continuing and, thanks to the development of our codeshare routes, we are able to offer our customers better access to Abu Dhabi and major cities in Australia and Asia," says Dominique Patry, Director of International Affairs and Alliances at Air France. Air France and Etihad formalized their cooperation through a strategic agreement signed in October 2012.
