Etihad Airways and Pakistan International Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement which will provide travellers with enhanced connections between the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and beyond.

Etihad Airways will place its EY code on PIA flights between Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Abu Dhabi.

In return, PIA’s PK code will be placed on Etihad Airways’ flights between Abu Dhabi and Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore and PK code will also be added to Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi to many of the global destinations operated by Etihad Airways. 

Flights can be booked via travel agents or through the airlines’ sales offices and contact centres.

The first travel date will be July 27th 2015.

This will facilitate travellers with a choice of more than 70 destinations.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways chief strategy and planning officer, said: “Our unique partner strategy has been highly successful and we are pleased to add Pakistan International Airlines to our growing list of successful code share partners.

“There is a long and proud history of travel between Abu Dhabi and cities across Pakistan, and this new codeshare agreement – between the national airlines of the UAE and Pakistan – will make that experience, as well as travel onwards to Africa, Europe, and the United States, that much easier.”

Etihad Airways and PIA are also exploring options to offer members of their respective frequent flyer programs, Etihad Guest and Awards+Plus, reciprocal earn and burn for miles when using codeshare flights.

All passengers flying on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States are processed through the US Preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi Airport, which means they pass through all US immigration and customs checks in Abu Dhabi and arrive in the US as domestic passengers.