British Airways and airberlin are cementing their relationship by entering into a codeshare arrangement on more than 40 flights across Europe.

This agreement means that British Airways’ customers can now buy direct flights on airberlin to the cities of Nuremburg, Munster and Paderborn through the BA wesbite.

In addition customers can access airberlin’s wider European network which includes connections from the main German gateways to destinations such as Palermo and Brindisi.

The new agreement will come into effect on July 5th, 2011 and will benefit both business and leisure travellers by offering a “one-stop-shop” to several new destinations, and enhancing connectivity within Europe for both British Airways and airberlin customers.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief executive, said: “The new airberlin services are the perfect complement to our existing European routes.

“Both airlines are committed to a full service offering and excellent value for money and this codeshare provides our customers with a preview of what is to come when airberlin officially joins oneworld next year.”

This codeshare between the airlines precedes airberlin’s entry into oneworld in April 2012 which is being sponsored by British Airways.

Joachim Hunold, chief executive of airberlin, said: “British Airways is our sponsoring airline within oneworld.

“That makes this new agreement a milestone for us as we look forward to the coming year, during which airberlin will be joining the alliance.

“Thanks to these codeshare flights with British Airways, our passengers will now have available to them two further airports, in addition to Gatwick and Stansted, from which they can continue their journey towards other destinations in the UK.”