South African Airways (SAA) and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing the two airlines to introduce a wider range of codeshare and interline air services.

Initially South African Airways will place its ‘SA’ code on 12 Etihad Airways destinations flying from the United Arab Emirates national carrier’s Abu Dhabi home-base. Additional cities in the Middle East, Asia and India are expected be added. In return Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on flights from Johannesburg to 10 SAA destinations across South Africa, Africa and South America.

“This extensive commercial agreement will enable SAA to access the vast majority of Etihad Airways global markets,” said Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA’s acting Chief Executive Officer.

The agreement also makes provision for passengers to earn and redeem miles through the airlines’ frequent flyer programs. Collectively, the two airline groups expect to carry more than 20 million passengers in 2013.

South African Airways, www.flysaa.com