Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Aegean Airlines, Greece’s largest commercial airline.

The agreement will see Aegean Airlines commence a four times a week service between Athens and Abu Dhabi on March 30th 2014 with a 168-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

Subject to regulatory approvals, Etihad Airways will place its EY flight code on the new flight.

Beyond Athens, Etihad Airways will also place its flight code on Aegean-operated flights to 16 Greek destinations, and to a further ten cities across Europe.

In return, Aegean will offer new codeshare routes between Athens and seven destinations across the Gulf region, Australia and South Africa.

Dimitris Gerogiannis, Aegean Airlines managing director, said:  “By partnering with Etihad Airways, Aegean gains access to the Gulf region and South Africa as well increasing connection opportunities to Australia.

“Aegean will also open up points on its network to Etihad Airways customers, and will enhance access to and from Greece via Abu Dhabi.

“The combined proposition to business and leisure travellers has never been stronger.

“The award-winning service quality of both Aegean and Etihad Airways will guarantee the best possible travel experience.

“I am confident Greek tourism and businesses will benefit significantly from this development, as will Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, and one of the world’s leading business and tourism destinations.”

The Aegean-operated European destinations that will carry an EY flight number include:  Vienna, Prague, Rome, Venice, Warsaw, Bucharest, Madrid, Tirana, Sofia and Larnaca.

Aegean Airlines plans to place its A3 flight code on Etihad Airways-operated flights from Abu Dhabi to Athens, Bahrain, Kuwait, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.