SAS, Scandinavia’s leading airline, and Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, have signed a codeshare agreement to expand travel options between Scandinavia and the UAE. The agreement allows both airlines to place their codes on selected services, making connections smoother and offering more scheduling choices for passengers.
Under the new arrangement, SAS will add its SK code to Etihad-operated flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and the following European cities: Brussels (BRU), Dusseldorf (DUS), Frankfurt (FRA), Rome (FCO), Milan (MXP), Zurich (ZRH), Geneva (GVA) and London (LHR). In return, Etihad will place its EY code on SAS-operated services from those European cities—excluding Brussels—onto SAS hubs in Copenhagen (CPH), Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARN).
Etihad will also place its EY code on SAS flights beyond the main hubs to provide more seamless connections within Scandinavia. From Copenhagen, the EY code will cover flights onward to Billund (BLL) and Alesund (AES). From Oslo, it will include onward services to Kristiansand (KRS), Trondheim (TRD) and Stavanger (SVG). From Stockholm, the EY code will extend to Umea (UME), Sundsvall (SDL) and Ostersund (OSD).
“Tourism and trade between our regions have increased over the years, and we are happy to offer the benefits of both SAS and Etihad Airways to our travelers,” said Elvind Roald, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at SAS. “From seven of SAS’ main European airports we can offer a high-quality product with Etihad Airways to and from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.”
The codeshare aims to simplify booking and connections for passengers, allowing travelers to book a single itinerary while benefiting from the networks of both carriers. By coordinating schedules and sharing flight codes, SAS and Etihad seek to improve connectivity between Scandinavian cities and the Middle East, supporting both leisure and business travel. Customers can expect improved access to long-haul services via Abu Dhabi as well as enhanced regional reach across Scandinavia through SAS’s domestic and short-haul network.
This collaboration reflects broader trends in the airline industry where carriers work together to increase route options, optimize schedules and offer greater convenience for passengers without adding duplicate services. The codeshare provides travelers with more flight choices, streamlined connections and the potential for coordinated frequent flyer benefits, subject to each airline’s respective programs and terms.