Etihad Airways and Air Europa have celebrated a historic milestone with the latter operating its inaugural wet-lease flight from Abu Dhabi to Madrid, marking the Spanish airline's first air operation from the Middle East.
The historic service, provided with a Boeing 787-9, represents a significant evolution in the existing alliance between the two airlines, based on the expansion of their codeshare agreement as well as the cooperation of their frequent flyer programs. This collaboration underscores the value of strategic partnerships to enhance global connectivity and offer more seamless travel options to passengers on four continents.
Etihad now offers two daily flights to Madrid, with the afternoon service, code EY103, operated by an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which has 32 Business Class seats and 307 Economy seats. The wet-lease agreement, together with the code-share extension, reinforces the growing market between Abu Dhabi and Spain, and supports tourism and trade links between the two countries.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "Today marks a new chapter in our partnership agreement with Air Europa. This relationship demonstrates how Etihad can work with strategic partners to enhance our route to Madrid and establish meaningful connectivity between continents. By partnering with Air Europa, we open up exciting possibilities for those of our passengers who wish to explore new destinations in Europe and Latin America."
Juan José Hidalgo, President of Air Europa, added: "The partnership with Etihad Airways to launch our first Middle East route from Abu Dhabi marks a transformational moment for Air Europa. This operation positions us perfectly to serve the growing demand for travel between Spain, Latin America and the dynamic markets of Asia and the Middle East. Etihad's global hub is the ideal platform for our international expansion."
The partnership reinforces Etihad's commitment to supporting Abu Dhabi's position as an attractive destination for both leisure and business travel, while strengthening links with key European markets such as Spain. Together, Etihad and Air Europa offer passengers convenient travel options to more than 130 destinations across their combined networks.
The wet-lease transaction establishes a solid foundation for future strategic initiatives between Etihad and Air Europa, including opportunities to deepen their commercial activities and expand bilateral cooperation. The two airlines remain committed to exploring new avenues of collaboration that will benefit passengers through enhanced travel options, connectivity and seamless service delivery.
