Etihad Airways will gain better access to Kabul following the signing of a codeshare agreement with Safi Airways, the leading international airline of Afghanistan.
Under the deal, effective since Tuesday 15 May, Etihad Airways has placed its two-letter 'EY' code on the four weekly services which Safi Airways has operated between Abu Dhabi and the Afghan capital, Kabul, since February 2012.
The new agreement will also give air travellers in Afghanistan greater and easier access to the Abu Dhabi-based airline's network of 86 destinations.
Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: "Etihad continues to expand its codeshare partnership across the world in line with its strategic network development plans. We were looking to improve point to point service to Kabul through a codeshare alliance with a carrier whose commitment to service and product is building rapidly.
"These codeshare agreements will also provide customers of both our airlines with greater access to Etihad Airways' expanding global network."
Lloyd Carswell, Chief Commercial Officer Safi Airways, said: "The codeshare with Etihad Airways is part of our long term strategic plan to consolidate our presence within the GCC and our ultimate goal to maximise connections to and from Afghanistan.
"The Etihad Airways network will allow us both to create a strategic and tangible step forward in the relentless pursuit of reconnecting Afghanistan to the rest of the world."
Etihad Airways has 34 other codeshare agreements in place. The new codeshare services commence between the two capitals from 18 May, 2012.
Travellers can book the new codeshare destinations through travel agents, Etihad shops, Etihad Airways contact centres or via www.etihad.com 
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with a fleet of 68 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also owns nearly 30 per cent of airberlin, Europe's sixth largest airline, and 40 per cent of Air Seychelles. For more information, please visit: etihad.com
About Safi Airways:
Safi Airways (IATA Code 4Q) is the leading international airline of Afghanistan.
The airline is headquartered in Kabul and Dubai (UAE). Founded in 2006, Safi Airways is the only full-service IATA scheduled carrier operating from Afghanistan. For more information, please see: www.safiairways.aero
For media enquiries kindly contact:
Lesley Watson
Head of Customer Loyalty & Communications
Safi Airways
Lesley.watson@safiairways.aero
Or call 04-2535300 Ext 219
For more information please contact:
Heba El Imam
Head of Arabic Communications, Etihad Airways
Phone: +971 50 106 56 85
Email: himam@etihad.ae
© Press Release 2012
