Emirates, the Dubai-based international carrier, and America's Continental Airlines will start codesharing on flights between Dubai and the US via London's Gatwick airport. A new marketing link will also allow travelers on both carriers to enjoy access to one another's airport lounges, as well as enhanced frequent flyer benefits.
For travel from September 15, 2003 Continental will place its CO flight code on Emirates services between Dubai and Gatwick connecting with Continental flights to and from Houston and New York Newark. Emirates will place its EK code on Continental flights to and from Houston and New York Newark connecting with Emirates services between Gatwick and Dubai.
Customers then check in just once, receiving seat assignments and boarding passes to their final destination at the same time, and collecting their bags at the end of their trip. Emirates and Continental have had a fully reciprocal frequent flyer agreement since August 2000. Members of Continental's OnePass and Emirates' Skywards frequent flyer programs earn miles on all flights by either airline worldwide and may redeem their miles on selected flights with each other.
Financially-independent Emirates serves 68 cities in 48 countries in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific. The Emirates Group also includes Al-Maha, Arabian Adventures, Dnata, Emirates Holidays, Emirates SkyCargo, Mercator, Transguard and Galileo.
In Europe and the Middle East, Continental serves 17 cities in 11 countries, operating up to 168 departures weekly to its U.S. gateway hubs at New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland, with onward connections to cities throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
