Tourexpi
Condor and Etihad Airways have taken the next step in
their growing strategic partnership by announcing a new frequent flyer
agreement and the launch of a Condor service between Bangkok and Abu Dhabi. The
announcements were made during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de
Janeiro and further expand the cooperation first unveiled in December 2025.
The new Bangkok service becomes the third route in
Condor’s planned Abu Dhabi operation, complementing the airline’s upcoming
daily flights from Frankfurt and Berlin. Together, the routes are expected to
strengthen Abu Dhabi’s role as a connecting hub and provide travellers with
greater access to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and
Australia.
Loyalty Benefits Expanded
A key element of the latest agreement is the
integration of Condor flights into the Etihad Guest loyalty programme. Under
the new arrangement, Etihad Guest members will be able to redeem their miles on
Condor-operated services.
The agreement gives members access to a broad range of
destinations across Condor’s network, including locations in Europe, North
America and the Caribbean, while further enhancing the value of the Etihad
Guest programme.
Growing Strategic Cooperation
The partnership between the two airlines already
includes a comprehensive codeshare agreement and continues to expand into
additional areas such as network development, commercial cooperation and
customer loyalty.
By combining Condor’s strong presence in the German
leisure travel market with Etihad’s growing global network via Abu Dhabi, the
airlines aim to create new travel opportunities for passengers while supporting
tourism and economic development in the UAE capital.
“Our strategic partnership with Etihad is developing
very successfully and creating real added value for our guests,” said Jens
Boyd, Commercial Director and Member of the Executive Committee of Condor.
“With the new connection between Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, we are expanding our
offering and strengthening connectivity between Europe, the Middle East, Asia,
Africa and Australia. Together, we are providing our guests with even more
travel options and flexibility.”
Abu Dhabi Strengthens Its Hub Position
Etihad views the cooperation as an important component
of its long-term growth strategy and its efforts to attract more visitors to
Abu Dhabi.
“Our partnership with Condor has rapidly evolved into
an important strategic relationship that is delivering value for both airlines,
our guests and Abu Dhabi,” said Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial
Officer. “The addition of Bangkok to Condor’s growing Abu Dhabi operation marks
another significant step forward, building on the upcoming Frankfurt and Berlin
services and creating new opportunities for connectivity between Europe, Asia
and the Middle East.”
He added that strong partnerships play an important
role in extending network reach and creating seamless travel experiences across
complementary route systems.
Broader Access Across Multiple Regions
Once the new services are fully operational,
travellers departing from Frankfurt, Berlin and Bangkok will gain easier access
to Etihad’s extensive network through Abu Dhabi. This includes destinations
across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia, including leisure
destinations such as Zanzibar and Salalah.
The expanded partnership complements Etihad’s existing
services to Germany while offering passengers on both airlines a wider choice
of routes, improved connectivity and greater flexibility when travelling
between Europe and key markets across the globe.
Image Credit: © Condor
The most interesting news
Read the News

Global cruise market forecast to nearly double by 2034
Passenger growth, fleet expansion and rising demand for premium and experiential travel are expected to drive the market to $38.5 billion
Read the News

Hotel Indigo reaches 200 hotels as global expansion accelerates
IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle brand has doubled its footprint since 2019 and has another 134 properties in the development pipeline
Read the News

Emirates launches first daily Dubai-Helsinki service
The new year-round route gives Finland its only direct connection to the UAE and opens new one-stop links to Asia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and Australasia
Read the News

Türkiye’s underwater heritage reveals ancient Mediterranean trade routes
More than 430 shipwrecks have been documented along the Mediterranean coast, while new excavations and museum projects are bringing thousands of years of maritime history to a wider audience
Read the News

WTTC and ICC join forces to strengthen tourism SMEs worldwide
New partnership targets regulatory, financial, digital and mobility barriers affecting small and medium-sized businesses across global Travel & Tourism
Read the News

Eurowings expands Middle East network with new Baghdad flights
New services from Berlin and Düsseldorf will complement connections to Dubai, Jeddah, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil and Amman in the 2026/27 winter schedule
Read the News

Costa Rica launches interactive map of natural and cultural heritage
Free bilingual platform combines tourism, biodiversity, marine science, history and geography in a digital exploration tool
Read the News

TUI Blue puts holistic wellness at the centre of Asian escapes
TUI Blue Berawa in Bali and TUI Blue Angkor Grace in Cambodia combine yoga, recovery, healthy cuisine and local wellbeing traditions with a relaxed resort experience
Read the News

SpongeBob musical to debut at sea on Royal Caribbean’s Hero
Broadway-inspired production will headline the entertainment programme when the new Icon Class ship begins Caribbean cruises from Miami in August 2027
Read the News

Thailand links Middle East travel trade with 80 tourism businesses
Forty representatives from the UAE and Saudi Arabia met Thai suppliers after a six-day product discovery programme in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Bangkok
Read the News

Phuket Vegetarian Festival brings Hokkien traditions to the streets
The nine-day celebration from 10 to 18 October combines shrine ceremonies, processions and centuries-old rituals across Phuket City
Read the News

RIU repositions Riu Touareg as family resort after major renovation
The 1,181-room resort on Boa Vista has reopened with redesigned accommodation, expanded dining and a new focus on families
Read the News

Holland America Line to add Arcadia as 12th ship in 2029
The Vista Class vessel will transfer from P&O Cruises, adding capacity for more than 2,000 guests and supporting Holland America’s fleet modernization program
Read the News

Spain welcomes 12.3 million international tourists in August
International visitor spending exceeded €17.8 billion during the month, while arrivals rose 9.2% and destinations outside Spain’s main tourism regions recorded particularly strong expenditure growth
Read the News

Southeast Asian travellers look beyond China’s traditional gateways
Traveloka data shows bookings to China’s emerging city destinations growing more than twice as fast as demand for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen
Read the News

Tempo by Hilton to make German debut at Munich Airport Arena
The 199-room lifestyle hotel is scheduled to open in 2029 as part of the new MUNICH ARENA entertainment campus near Munich Airport
Read the News

Lufthansa Group expands Japan network to 50 weekly flights
Lufthansa will return to Nagoya and add daily Frankfurt–Tokyo Narita services as the group significantly increases Japan capacity for Summer 2027
Read the News

Silversea adds 103 voyages for 2028-2029 season
The new collection spans 56 countries and introduces culinary sailings, 29 new ports and a 75-night circumnavigation of South America
Read the News

Hyatt Centric Sapporo opens as new base for exploring Hokkaido
The 216-room property is the Hyatt Centric brand’s first hotel in Hokkaido, combining a central Sapporo location with a strong focus on regional design and cuisine
Read the News

Oktoberfest draws growing interest from Asian travellers
Agoda data shows strong search growth from China, India and Japan, while visitors increasingly combine Munich with other German destinations
Read the News

Indonesia targets Australian travellers with quality tourism strategy
Bali, Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Borobudur anchor a campaign designed to encourage longer stays, higher-value travel and deeper local experiences