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Air travellers can now book their train or coach connections at their destination in Europe while booking a flight with UAE’s Etihad Airways.
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier announced on Tuesday the expansion of its partnership with AccessRail, a provider of air-rail intermodal transport.
The tie-up enables customers to secure train and coach tickets in conjunction with their air fare using the airline’s online booking platform, or through their travel agency, allowing travellers to plan their trip more efficiently and save time on their onward journeys.
The deal will benefit travellers bound to Germany, United Kingdom and soon Italy.
“This is a tremendous product, which provides convenient rail or coach connections at some of our key gateways in Europe, enabling customers to commence their Etihad journey from multiple domestic points with the best fares available, all on the same itinerary and ticket,” said Ali Saleh, Etihad Airways vice president for alliances and partnerships.
With the feature, Etihad customers can connect to and from their international flights to rail routes operated by major European railway companies using the airline’s ‘EY’ code, including an expanded network of seven rail routes on Germany’s Deutsche Bahn from Frankfurt Main Airport.
The partnership has also been extended to the United Kingdom, to include 16 destinations westbound from London Heathrow on Great Western Railway, and subject to final government approval, to 28 cities across Italy on the country’s primary rail operator, Trenitalia.
“The expansion will also see additional inter-city coach services in the UK operated by National Express to 28 major British towns and cities from London Heathrow, and five from Manchester Airport.
The carrier has operated a similar deal with France’s SNCF, providing codeshare services to 20 destinations on the French domestic rail network from the airline’s gateway in Paris.
(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)
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