Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

Emirates strengthens ties with US while Etihad looks east

By Gavin Gibbon
Etihad and China Southern Airlines will explore ways to work more closely together Etihad
Etihad and China Southern Airlines will explore ways to work more closely together
  • Dubai carrier activates codeshare with United Airlines
  • Abu Dhabi airline signs deal with China Southern Airlines
  • Emirates flies from its hub to 12 US cities

Dubai airline Emirates has strengthened its relations with the US as its Abu Dhabi counterpart Etihad Airways increased its presence in the east.

Emirates and United Airlines have activated their codeshare partnership allowing customers of the Dubai carrier to fly to Chicago, Houston or San Francisco and connect to the network of domestic flights operated by the American airline.

The agreement gives Emirates passengers access to more than 150 US cities.

Emirates customers in the US planning trips to Dubai and beyond can connect via the three cities.

Emirates currently offers services between its hub in Dubai and 12 US cities, as well as five points across Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Fellow UAE carrier Etihad Airways is focused east, after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Southern Airlines.

The move will “explore extending global flight networks beyond the two carriers’ hubs”, according to a statement.

Etihad launched services to China Southern’s home hub at Guangzhou Baiyuan International Airport in October 2022.

The MoU also contains plans for mutual procurement opportunities across ground handling, cargo handling, warehousing, catering and maintenance, repair and overhaul in either Guangzhou, Beijing or Abu Dhabi.

Emirates airlineEmirates
Emirates flights to Chicago, Houston and San Francisco can connect to the network of domestic flights operated by United Airlines. Picture: Emirates

Arik De, chief revenue officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad looks forward to working with China Southern Airlines to explore comprehensive and pragmatic ways in which the two carriers can work more closely together.

“We aim to drive greater value through our unique strengths at Beijing Daxing International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun and further extend the reach of our joint network.”

China lifted its coronavirus-related travel restrictions in January, allowing Chinese tourists to travel abroad, without having to quarantine upon their return.

Bookings for overseas travel during Chinese New Year soared by 540 percent compared with the same period in 2022, according to data from the Chinese travel site Trip.com.

Latest articles

Sainsbury's has the second-largest share of the UK grocery market, at 15 percent, behind Tesco at 28 percent

Qatar to reduce stake in UK supermarket Sainsbury’s

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is selling part of its 15 percent stake in the British supermarket Sainsbury’s as the fund pushes ahead with expansion in the United States and Asia, particularly China and India. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the biggest shareholder in Sainsbury’s, is selling £306 million ($399 million) worth of shares in the retailer, […]

Shoppers in Kuwait's Avenues Mall – the IMF says the country needs to encourage private sector employment

Kuwait needs to push reforms for economic growth, says IMF

Kuwait must accelerate the introduction of fiscal and structural reforms that are needed to increase private sector-led growth and diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday. Kuwait’s economy will contract by 3.2 percent this year because of an Opec+ oil production cut, but will grow by 2.8 percent in 2025 […]

Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, (UAE) speaks during the Skybridge Capital SALT New York 2021 conference in New York City, U.S., September 15, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s minister of state for foreign trade, said 'Malaysia offers substantial opportunity for our exporters, industrialists and business leaders' UAE Malaysia Cepa

UAE and Malaysia sign Cepa to increase bilateral trade

The UAE and Malaysia have signed a free trade deal, bringing the number of deals the Gulf state has agreed with foreign governments to 12. The comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) will seek to eliminate or reduce tariffs, lower trade barriers, increase private sector collaboration and create new investment opportunities, the two countries said in a […]

Modern buildings in the city center of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh leads Saudi Arabia’s hot property market

Strong population and employment growth in Riyadh is driving a surge in real estate transactions as new properties cannot come on the market fast enough. A dramatic rise in the number of deals in the 12 months to the end of June was also visible in Jeddah and Dammam, according to a report this week […]