Etihad, Alitalia sign MOU for two new destinations

Alitalia and Etihad Airways yesterday said they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to operate a code-share agreement from April 2010, subject to government approvals according to a report in "Gulf News."
The agreement will mean Etihad passengers around the world will be able to fly to two new Italian destinations, Rome and Naples.
Alitalia customers will be able to fly directly from Italy to Abu Dhabi and will have greater and easier access to the airline's expanding network of more than 55 destinations.
Under the proposed deal, Etihad will place its two-letter ‘EY' code on a number of services operated by Alitalia from Milan to Rome and Naples, and between selected European destinations and Rome, including Frankfurt, Geneva and Munich.
In turn, Alitalia will place its ‘AZ' code on Etihad's flights between Milan and the airline's Abu Dhabi home base, and onto Bahrain, Muscat, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Sydney and Melbourne.
Etihad currently operates five direct services to Milan (Malpensa) per week.