Coming through the wire this morning was this surprising news from Air Canada! The airline will be forming a strategic partnership with UAE based Emirates. These are the same two airlines who have in the past, fought over how many flights Emirates could operate to Canada! It looks like those differences have been repaired.... or forgotten as the two will start working together later this year.
Air Canada and Emirates intend to establish a codeshare relationship later in 2022 that will offer enhanced consumer travel choices for Air Canada customers to travel to the United Arab Emirates and to destinations beyond Dubai. Emirates customers will also enjoy an enhanced travel experience when travelling to Toronto or to key destinations across the Air Canada network.
The partnership will begin as a codeshare relationship which means you will be able to buy a single ticket that will cover flights on both airlines, more connections options and more streamlined airport and baggage services.
After that the airlines are planning on furthering the partnership by offering reciprocal frequent flyer benefits:
To further enhance the customer experience, the carriers will also establish reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and reciprocal lounge access for qualifying customers. Further details of the partnership and specific codeshare routes will be announced when finalized and will be subject to regulatory approvals and final documentation.
The frequent flyer side of things should be interesting as Air Canada already has a frequent flyer partnership with the other major airline from the United Arab Emirates, Etihad. I remember being at a loyalty conference sometime ago and talking with an Emirates Skywards representative who said in no way does the airline partner with programs that are partnered with Etihad. I was asking specifically if Emirates would become an American Express Canada Membership Rewards transfer partner since they are in other parts of the world but was told no since Etihad was already a partner. Who knows, maybe that rift has also closed!
Wrapping it up
Air Canada and Emirates have signed a strategic partnership agreement that will provide more options when travelling on the two airlines. It will provide more connecting options for Air Canada customers out of Dubai and Emirates customers out of Toronto. In the future the connecting of the two airlines' frequent flyer programs should provide some amazing opportunities for Aeroplan members to redeem on some of the world's best long haul flights!
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