UK-based Flybe much closer to Middle East thanks to Etihad Airways pact

On November 5 Dubai's Etihad Airways announced a new alliance with UK-based Flybe, the largest regional budget carrier in Europe.

The codeshare agreement allows Etihad to reach a host of new airports in the UK, linking Etihad's 55 destinations with Flybe's 55 destinations across 13 European countries. The two companies now sell connecting flights for each other on just one ticket sold by one airline, greatly expediting the flying process for the consumer.

Etihad now directly reaches several regional airports in the UK, including Southampton, Birmingham and Belfast, as well as providing service to Edinburgh, Glasgow and other UK destinations via flight connections with Flybe.

Thanks to the codeshare agreement, customers of short-haul specialist Flybe can now reach the Middle East with just one ticket.

Since its inception in 2003 Etihad Airways has been ranked one of the top 10 airlines in the world in terms of growth, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The United Arab Emirates continues to lead the way for airport growth in the Middle East, which is the only region of the world that has enjoyed sustained growth during the current air industry recession.