Tourexpi
Condor and Etihad Airways have taken the next step in
their growing strategic partnership by announcing a new frequent flyer
agreement and the launch of a Condor service between Bangkok and Abu Dhabi. The
announcements were made during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de
Janeiro and further expand the cooperation first unveiled in December 2025.
The new Bangkok service becomes the third route in
Condor’s planned Abu Dhabi operation, complementing the airline’s upcoming
daily flights from Frankfurt and Berlin. Together, the routes are expected to
strengthen Abu Dhabi’s role as a connecting hub and provide travellers with
greater access to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and
Australia.
Loyalty Benefits Expanded
A key element of the latest agreement is the
integration of Condor flights into the Etihad Guest loyalty programme. Under
the new arrangement, Etihad Guest members will be able to redeem their miles on
Condor-operated services.
The agreement gives members access to a broad range of
destinations across Condor’s network, including locations in Europe, North
America and the Caribbean, while further enhancing the value of the Etihad
Guest programme.
Growing Strategic Cooperation
The partnership between the two airlines already
includes a comprehensive codeshare agreement and continues to expand into
additional areas such as network development, commercial cooperation and
customer loyalty.
By combining Condor’s strong presence in the German
leisure travel market with Etihad’s growing global network via Abu Dhabi, the
airlines aim to create new travel opportunities for passengers while supporting
tourism and economic development in the UAE capital.
“Our strategic partnership with Etihad is developing
very successfully and creating real added value for our guests,” said Jens
Boyd, Commercial Director and Member of the Executive Committee of Condor.
“With the new connection between Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, we are expanding our
offering and strengthening connectivity between Europe, the Middle East, Asia,
Africa and Australia. Together, we are providing our guests with even more
travel options and flexibility.”
Abu Dhabi Strengthens Its Hub Position
Etihad views the cooperation as an important component
of its long-term growth strategy and its efforts to attract more visitors to
Abu Dhabi.
“Our partnership with Condor has rapidly evolved into
an important strategic relationship that is delivering value for both airlines,
our guests and Abu Dhabi,” said Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial
Officer. “The addition of Bangkok to Condor’s growing Abu Dhabi operation marks
another significant step forward, building on the upcoming Frankfurt and Berlin
services and creating new opportunities for connectivity between Europe, Asia
and the Middle East.”
He added that strong partnerships play an important
role in extending network reach and creating seamless travel experiences across
complementary route systems.
Broader Access Across Multiple Regions
Once the new services are fully operational,
travellers departing from Frankfurt, Berlin and Bangkok will gain easier access
to Etihad’s extensive network through Abu Dhabi. This includes destinations
across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia, including leisure
destinations such as Zanzibar and Salalah.
The expanded partnership complements Etihad’s existing
services to Germany while offering passengers on both airlines a wider choice
of routes, improved connectivity and greater flexibility when travelling
between Europe and key markets across the globe.
Image Credit: © Condor
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