Emirates builds unrivalled network with partners to reach over 800 cities

On an average week, over 50,000 travellers connect to their destination of choice on codeshare or interline flights operated by Emirates’ many partners. The airline’s numerous partnerships developed over the years have helped fuel its growth, enabled frictionless connectivity for customers, bolstered loyalty reciprocity and tapped into unique markets that have generated new traffic flows.

While Emirates’ business strategy has always been to grow organically, its strategic partnerships like interline agreements and codeshares help to expand its global footprint, enabling the airline’s customers to reach places far beyond its own network. Emirates will continue evolve its partnership strategy by broadening many of its interline partnerships to full-fledged codeshare agreements, and strengthening its existing codeshares to build on its already industry-leading network position.

Since it signed its first interline agreement, Emirates’ global partner network has grown exponentially across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Today, the airline has 29 codeshare, 117 interline and 11 intermodal rail partners across the transport ecosystem in over 100 countries, delivering an array of travel choices through flexible schedules for travellers, and providing seamless connectivity, relevance and a network reach that extends to over 5,250 additional sectors covering over 800 cities. For example, in the Americas this means reaching cities beyond major airports, like Corpus Christi through United and Halifax with Air Canada. In Asia, travellers have strong connection opportunities to leisure points like Koi Samui in Thailand and Luang Prabang in Laos with partner Bangkok Airways. In Africa, South African Airways and Kenya Airways connect Emirates customers to an array of underserved points like Vilanculos, Kilanmanjaro, Juba, and Maputo. For customers of those airlines flying on Emirates, connecting to the carrier’s network of over 140 destinations through Dubai is easily within reach.

Customers can book connecting flights with the airline’s partners and enjoy the benefits of seamless single ticket itineraries, baggage transfers, frequent flyer benefits, lounge access, alongside other perks to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “We have a long-standing history of partnerships that have reshaped the way people travel around the world. It’s a reflection of our commitment to providing our customers greater flexibility and confidence when planning their travel itineraries through leveraging the strength of our partners’ complementary route networks. It’s also helped to enhance Dubai’s connectivity to the world, providing direct and indirect links to over 800 cities, generating more tourism to our hub and boosting business and trade opportunities. These partnerships have also supported inbound tourism to over 100 countries through opening up connection opportunities and smoother journeys via the exclusively served points of our partners.  As we enter the next phase of growth for Emirates, codeshare and interline partnerships will be a critical component of our future success and a core part of our commercial strategy, and we’re working hard to develop them even further to offer a huge choice of onwards destinations for our customers.”

Last year, Emirates signed codeshare and interline agreements with 11 airlines. Besides the  cornerstone codeshare agreements with United Airlines and Air Canada, which expanded the airline’s connectivity to over 570 points in the Americas, Emirates also signed up with Airlink, Aegean Airlines, Air Tanzania, ITA Airways, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Philippine Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, and SKY Express, further expanding network choices it offers to customers. The airline also recently announced an interline agreement with Kenya Airways.

This year, Emirates is set to enter into new partnerships and deepen the level of cooperation on existing ones with airlines across East, South and Central Asia, Africa and Europe. The airline’s loyalty programme, Emirates Skywards and its freight division, Emirates SkyCargo also work closely with codeshare and interline partners to coordinate holistic partnerships that complement network and loyalty programme frameworks, boosting benefits for customers flying with both carriers and helping them reach new markets more efficiently. On the operational side, Emirates Airport Services play a pivotal role in helping make connectivity work seamlessly and enabling reciprocal lounge access for customers.