Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline likely to reconsider alliances, says British Airways Chairman

UAE’s national flag carrier Etihad Airways and leading Middle East carrier Emirates Airline might give a serious rethink on their current stand on joining a global airline alliance, media reports recently quoted British Airways chairman Sir Martin Broughton as saying.

Broughton said that it is highly likely that both the Middle East carriers would reconsider their stance following a recent decision by Qatar Airways to join the leading global airline alliance oneworld.

He said that under a recent codeshare agreement Etihad Airways flights will be operated to various European destinations in association with Air France-KLM and that Etihad Airways would be eager to join the alliance, but this will not be the case with Emirates Airline.

Broughton said that Emirates Airline has already emphatically stated that it is not interested in joining an alliance.

Etihad Airways has already announced a codeshare partnership with Air France-KLM and would jointly operate flights to destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Australia and Asia from October 28, 2012.