Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 11, Etihad Airways and Hong Kong Airlines announced a new codeshare partnership and a reciprocal loyalty agreement, formalised during a ceremony in Hong Kong on 4 November, coinciding with the arrival of Etihad’s inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong International Airport.
Mark Potter, Managing Director Etihad Guest (front left) and Ryan Ren, Commercial Director, Hong Kong Airlines (front right) signing, witnessed by Majed Al Marzouqi, Etihad Chief Operations and Guest Officer (back left), Louis Li, Executive Vice President, Hong Kong Airlines (back centre-left), and Peter Gong, General Manager of Fortune Wings Club, Hainan Airlines (back right).
Under the codeshare, Hong Kong Airlines flights between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi are now bookable as Etihad ‘EY’ services. Likewise, travellers can fly Etihad to key Japanese destinations—including Fukuoka, Hokkaido-Sapporo, Osaka, and Okinawa—on Hong Kong Airlines-operated flights under the ‘HX’ code. Passengers benefit from a single ticket for the entire journey, single check-in, and automatic baggage transfer.
The reciprocal loyalty programme allows members of Hong Kong Airlines’ Fortune Wings Club and Etihad Guest to earn and redeem points across both airlines’ networks. This extends Etihad’s existing partnerships, including with Hainan Airlines, and makes Fortune Wings Club members eligible to collect and redeem points on Etihad’s new Hong Kong service. With this addition, Etihad Guest becomes the non-alliance loyalty programme with the largest airline partner portfolio worldwide.
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “This partnership delivers meaningful value to Etihad Guest members through full earn-and-redeem access across Hong Kong Airlines’ network, complemented by codeshare connectivity to high-demand Japanese destinations. It underscores our commitment to providing our loyal guests with greater flexibility, broader reach, and superior rewards.”
Louis Li, Executive Vice President of Hong Kong Airlines, commented: “This partnership marks an important milestone in Hong Kong Airlines’ return to the international market. The expansion of our codeshare and the launch of a reciprocal loyalty programme not only benefit travellers from both airlines but also lay the foundation for deepened commercial collaboration. Our relationship with Etihad Airways began in 2014 through codeshare cooperation and has remained strong ever since.”
Li noted the growing travel demand from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to Hong Kong and other major Asian cities. He added that Abu Dhabi, as the capital of the United Arab Emirates, plays a key role in facilitating trade and economic ties between Hong Kong and the Middle East. “We are confident that this renewed partnership will create significant commercial opportunities for both airlines and deliver greater convenience and value to business and leisure travellers alike,” Li said.
The agreement is expected to strengthen connectivity between the Middle East, Hong Kong, and Japan, offering passengers streamlined travel, enhanced loyalty benefits, and improved access to both airlines’ networks. By combining codeshare and loyalty advantages, the partnership aims to provide seamless travel experiences while fostering growth in passenger traffic across the region.
With the launch of this programme, both airlines anticipate expanded commercial opportunities and reinforced cooperation, positioning themselves to better serve business and leisure travellers on major routes between the Middle East and Asia. The collaboration also highlights the continued importance of Abu Dhabi as a hub connecting key global markets.
