Air Canada and Flydubai, a Dubai-based single aisle operator, have launched a codeshare and interline agreements, helping Air Canada fliers reach more regional destinations.
At the end of the press release, there is a note that they are working on reciprocal elite and frequent flier benefits that are expected to be launched later this year.
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Air Canada’s announcement:
Air Canada and flydubai Unveil Partnership Expanding Footprint Between Canada and the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia
- Carriers to codeshare on nine markets and interline on more than 60 others beyond Dubai
MONTREAL, May 17, 2023 /CNW/ – Air Canada and flydubai today announced a new partnership to give customers flying between Canada, the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia more convenient travel options.
Pending final regulatory approval, Air Canada’s marketing code will be placed on nine routes operated from Dubai by flydubai, giving customers the ability to travel to these markets with the issuance of a single ticket. The routes include the Middle Eastern cities of Medina, Dammam, Bahrain, Jeddah, and Muscat, as well as flights to Colombo, and Karachi on the Indian Subcontinent.
Additionally, through an interline arrangement, customers will be able to seamlessly connect in Dubai to more than 60 destinations that flydubai flies to in the Middle East, East Africa and Southern Asia – including Kathmandu, Djibouti and the Maldives. Of these destinations, more than 30 are unique to flydubai and not flown by other partners of Air Canada.
“Air Canada is very pleased to partner with flydubai, further expanding our connectivity to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, a growing source of immigration and travel to Canada. This new partnership is a perfect complement to Air Canada’s non-stop service to Dubai from Toronto and Vancouver, and growing our relationship with Emirates, flydubai’s codeshare partner. Together we look forward to bringing together our networks and building a better experience for our customers,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada.
Commenting on the codeshare announcement, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “We are very pleased to be adding Air Canada to our list of partners and to offer their passengers a seamless travel experience on the flydubai network. We look forward to growing this partnership that offers passengers the benefits and the convenience of connecting via the Dubai aviation hub and we look forward to welcoming them on board soon.”
The airlines also plan on further improving the connection process in Dubai, and are working toward introducing expanded features and benefits for one another’s loyalty programme members to be announced later this year.
Conclusion
This is a logical choice for Air Canada to have another airline partner based in Dubai that are both owned by the government.
Flydubai operates single-aisle aircraft and flies to many destinations that cannot support wide-body planes from Emirates.
It is good that some frequent flier benefits are in the works too, and we are eager to learn more about them later in the year.