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United Airlines, Emirates announce partnership agreement amid strong air travel demand

Photo by: United Airlines Press Release

United Airlines and Emirates signed a codeshare agreement and will launch direct flights to Dubai soon. The two airlines that had been rivals at one point are teaming up, and this was revealed on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

The US and Dubai-based air carriers will start working together amid the surge of demand in air travel following the easing up of regulations related to COVID-19. With the codeshare agreement, United Airlines said it would add direct flights for Newark/New York and Dubai routes, and this service is set to begin in March 2023.

Moreover, as per Reuters, United Airlines and Emirates will now be selling tickets for each other’s flights. This particular move is a big turnaround in the business models of the former rivals in the industry.

This means that passengers of the American air carrier can now travel on Emirates or flydubai airline which is Emirate’s sister airline. They can easily fly from Dubai to other cities under the deal. What’s more, it was shared that customers will soon be able to book these connecting flights without hassle as they can be booked on a single ticket.

With the codeshare deal between United Airlines and Emirates, Tim Clark, the latter’s president, said he is wishing for the agreement to develop into a joint venture someday. This setup is similar to what Emirates already has with Qantas, an Australian carrier, CNBC reported.

This new collaboration has yet to be approved by industry regulators and once given the “go” signal, passengers of both airlines will also be able to earn and use their frequent flyer miles points on the two carriers.

"This agreement unites two iconic, flag carrier airlines who share a common commitment to creating the best customer experience in the skies," United Airline’s chief executive officer, Scott Kirby, said in a press release. "United's new flight to Dubai and our complementary networks will make global travel easier for millions of our customers, helping boost local economies and strengthen cultural ties.”

The chief went on to say, “This is a proud moment for both United and Emirates employees, and I look forward to our journey together."

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