Over 50,000 passengers connect weekly to their chosen destination on codeshare or interline flights operated by Emirates’ partners.
Numerous partnerships the airline has developed over the years helped fuel its growth. They enabled frictionless connectivity for their customers, strengthened loyalty reciprocity, and tapped into new markets that generated traffic.
Emirates’ organic growth strategy is still the main focus of its business. However, strategic partnerships such as codeshares and interline agreements help it to expand its global reach, giving its customers access to destinations far beyond its network. Emirates will continue evolving its partnership strategies by converting many interline agreements into full-fledged codeshare agreements and strengthening existing codeshares to enhance its industry-leading position further.
Emirates’ global network of partners has expanded exponentially since it signed its interline agreement. It now spans Europe, North America, Australia, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
The airline currently has 29 codeshare partners, 117 interline partners, and 11 intermodal railway partners in the transport ecosystem of over 100 countries. This allows travelers to choose from various travel options while providing seamless connectivity and relevance. Its network reaches over 5,250 sectors, covering more than 800 cities. In the Americas, this includes reaching cities outside major airports like Corpus Christi via United or Halifax with Air Canada. Bangkok Airways, a partner in Asia, offers travelers a strong network of connections to destinations like Koi Samui and Luang Prabang. South African Airways, Kenya Airways, and Air Namibia connect Emirates customers with various underserved destinations in Africa, like Vilanculos, Kilimanjaro, Juba, and Maputo. Customers of these airlines who fly on Emirates can easily connect to Emirates’ network of 140 destinations via Dubai.
Book connecting flights through the airline and benefit from seamless single-ticket itineraries, luggage transfers, frequent flyer rewards, lounge access, and other benefits to ensure a smooth journey.
We have a long history of partnerships that have changed the way people travel all over the world. This is a testament to our commitment to providing our customers with greater flexibility and confidence in planning their travel itinerary by leveraging the complementary route networks of our partners. This has also improved Dubai’s global connectivity, providing direct and indirectly linked to more than 800 cities. It has generated more tourism and increased business opportunities. These partnerships also helped inbound tourism into over 100 countries by opening up connections and smoother travel via the exclusively-served points of our partners. Codeshare and interline partnership will be critical to our success as we enter the next phase for Emirates. They are also a crucial part of our business strategy. We’re working to develop these partnerships further to provide our customers with a wide range of destinations.
Emirates signed codeshare agreements and interline agreements last year with 11 airlines. Emirates has also expanded its network options by signing codeshare agreements with Air Canada and United Airlines. These agreements have increased the airline’s connectivity to more than 570 destinations in the Americas. Recently, the airline announced an interline deal with Kenya Airways.
Emirates will enter into new partnerships this year and deepen its cooperation with existing partners in East, South, and Central Asia, as well as Africa and Europe. Emirates Skywards, the airline’s loyalty program, and Emirates SkyCargo, its freight division, work closely with codeshare partners and interline carriers to coordinate partnerships that complement network frameworks and loyalty programs. This helps customers fly with both airlines and help them reach the new market more efficiently. Emirates Airport Services plays a vital role on the operational side in ensuring that connectivity works seamlessly and customers have access to lounges.
Strategic partnerships with more than 140 airlines across the airline’s network have increased connectivity options for the customers by expanding the number of cities that can be included on a single flight, as well as integrating loyalty benefits:
Emirates customers traveling to the U.S. can access more than 200 U.S. Cities in the United Network via Chicago, Houston, or San Francisco. Travelers can also reach dozens of destinations in Canada, Mexico, Caribbean islands, Central and South America and Central America. Emirates customers can choose from various destinations in the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South Asia. Emirates’ partnership with Air Canada allows both carriers’ customers to travel seamlessly to 232 destinations on three continents. These include the Americas and Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Europe:
Customers can connect with Emirates’ five codeshare partner airlines, Air Malta, Air Baltics, Aegean Airlines TAP Portugal, Siberia Airlines, and 35 interline partners, to reach over 313 cities. This includes popular holiday destinations along the Mediterranean. Rail partners in Germany, Spain, and France offer on-ground connectivity to travelers who want to travel Europe by train and connect seamlessly with Emirates.
Asia:
Emirate’s extensive Asian network has been boosted by its nine codeshare partners, including Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Garuda, etc. The airline reaches over 150 cities in Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and other popular tourist destinations.
Australia:
The partnership between Emirates and Qantas is often referred to as one of the most significant in the industry. It allows Qantas passengers to access more than 65 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, which are not part of Qantas’s current international network. Emirates Skywards members and Qantas frequent flyers can earn points and redeem them when flying with either airline. They also have access to the lounges of each airline at airports worldwide. Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, is also part of the airline partnership. This allows travelers to travel from Australia to cities in Asia on a single ticket.
Emirates has increased its footprint in Africa over the years, allowing for better connectivity and excellent customer value. Now more flight options are available to smaller regional destinations on the continent. The airline’s reach has been extended to more than 130 regional African destinations through codeshares and interlines, including South African Airways (SAA), Airlink, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Tunis Air, and Tunis Air.
Middle East:
The partnership between Emirates and flydubai, the airline’s cornerstone, has improved traffic flow in and out of its Dubai hub and has enabled it to offer enhanced connectivity to over 215 destinations in 98 countries. On an average day, there are more than 250 codeshare flights available. Flydubai customers have access to more than 80 flydubai-only destinations, and Emirates customers can travel to more than 100 Emirates destinations. Over 2 million passengers have traveled on the joint network of both carriers in the past two years. The partnership offers seamless connectivity between Terminals 2 & 3 at Dubai International Airport, baggage transfers within a single itinerary, and reciprocal benefits through the joint loyalty program, Emirates Skywards.
