Air France-KLM and Etihad seem to be ending their partnership in a pretty drastic way. I’m curious what happened in the background to cause this…
Continue reading: Air France-KLM & Etihad End Partnership, Cut Ties
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AFKLM part own SAS also has colab with Ethiad...lets see what happens with that
@ DaBluBoi -- That's what it looks like. Clearly all SkyTeam carriers are flocking to Riyadh Air.
Interesting that Etihad doesn't seem to it work out with European partners.
A few years back Etihad had a partnership of sorts with Lufthansa such that EY was operating from LH's Terminal 2 in MUC.
They parted ways and EY moved to Terminal 1.
I suspect that EY may be joining an alliance that isn’t ST.
It’s always rumored that EY would go to Star.
QR wouldn’t allow EY into OW.
Etihad has released a statement on the end of their partnership with AF KLM, confirming that their frequent flyer partnership should continue and remain unaffected.
https://www.etihadhub.com/en-ae/news/important-update-regarding-partnership-with-air-france-klm
As of today, they are still listed as Frequent Flyer partners on both Etihad and Flying Blue websites and Etihad awards remain available via AF/KL websites.
Despite that, EY & LH group still retained a codeshare & interline partnership, even if they stopped sharing terminals
It's called the art of the deal. Air France/KLM tried making a deal. They tried wooing Etihad into Sky Team. I'm pretty sure that Delta was making overtures too. They probably said, "Look, either expand our relationship and at least begin the path of joining Sky Team or we're cutting all ties." Etihad called their bluff and Air France/KLM did what they threatened. Now, the question is whether this is permanent or whether it's an attempt to force etihad to the negotiating table.
I’m flying Etihad F from CDG-AUH at the end of April. My understanding was that EY flies from AF’s terminal and uses their lounges. What does this mean for that now? Will they still have a lounge agreement in place? Will EY move back to their previous terminal?
"While it hasn’t been explicitly stated, I think it’s safe to assume that frequent flyer reciprocity between the airlines will be ending as well."
There has actually never been any frequent flyer reciprocity. It was announced and "explored", but it never came to fruition. I flew on EY CDG-AUH last December on an AF codeshare (after AF axed its own AUH flights) and was denied both lounge access and the use of premium check-in as FB Plat.
@Ben - What's the logic behind that? Do these airlines get financial incentives for partnering with Riyadh Air? I really don't see any other reason as to why they'd dump a well-established carrier for a brand new airline that hasn't operated a single commercial flight yet.
I saw the announcement, too, but it doesn't make sense. If EY is still able to issue award tickets on AF/KL, EY must maintain interline agreement with AF/KL. I think the SPA (Special Prorate Agreement) may end on 15APR, but if the interline agreement also ends, the FF partnership must end, too.
"that hasn't operated a single commercial flight yet."
And won't, for almost another 2 years. And even then, won't have a network that's worth a damn, until years after that. It's a real head-scratcher.
Total speculation:
But maybe Etihad got a sense that it was only being used as a temporary placeholder, until Riyadh Air is up and running? So might've played hard ball with AF/KLM in terms of relationship building.
Or since the old Etihad nearly went bankrupt, because of its Swissair-like approach to making terrible partnering decisions; maybe the new Etihad's management is wary of close partnership ties, and AF/KLM didn't feel like they were getting the partnership they needed?
Who knows. Just completely uncorroborated (but very plausible) theories.
Why would EY go to *A when the founding partner of *A (UA) has a partnership with EK? SkyTeam is/was EY’s only alliance option really.
Regardless of elite benefits, one used to be able to earn XPs on Etihad until a few months ago!
Etihad says that the 'frequent flyer partnership' with AF-KLM remains unchanged.
Here's a link to the press release from 21.03.2025.
https://www.etihadhub.com/en-ae/news/important-update-regarding-partnership-with-air-france-klm
The frequent flyer reciprocity only applied to flights marketed or sold by AF-KLM. If you had booked the flight directly with EY, then there was no lounge access etc included.
As of last month, Etihad moved out of Air France’s terminal (2E) in CDG and moved to Terminal 1, where they have been before October 2023.
AF wanted EY in Skyteam. DL said no because they saw more potential in Riyadh Air. This started complicating the relationship between AF and EY.
AF introduced the high density 777 out of nowhere (probably realising the partnership was moving tons of economy pax and not much else), EY responded tit for tat by deploying the A380 to CDG. This was so rushed they didn’t even get full gate utilization approval which has led them to use remote stands for the whale almost everyday.
Eventually AF pulled out of AUH, the negotiations hit a standstill. And DL led negotiations with Saudia eventually brought AF into the fold with flights to RUH now being relaunched.
Full circle. Shows you how much clout DL has.
Meanwhile EY is licking its wounds, as usual playing second fiddle to EK and QR and now Riyadh air.
speculate and assume - why not research and report on the situation or wait to have an article....
Perhaps because he's not an investigative journalist, and that many of us find discussing what we do know interesting?
QR doesn't have the ability to "not allow EY into OW" as it does not have veto power. Only AA, BA, Qantas, and Cathay do.
Well this is a shocker. I have a strong feeling that DL MIGHT have something to do with this. DL is and has always been very influential in SkyTeam and despite only owning 2% of AF-KL, have the ability to influence their decision making. They also seem to lead the DL-VS-AF-KL TATL JV.
DL after all, out of the US3 had been the most anti-ME3 and remains to be against them. AA and QR have worked it out pretty well. UA and EK seem to be getting along as does AC and EK, though EK won't be joining Star soon. That leaves DL with EY but decided to partner with Riyadh Air instead. Riyadh Air did say they won't be joining an alliance but would rather have individual partnerships and this could be where AF-KL is heading. More recently, DL and Saudia have expanded their codes haring agreement. All these could have factored in the ending ties.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
I'm good with it. If I never hears about Etihad again I'd be fine. Clearly they know what they're doing.
It seems like Riyadh Air is stealing everything from Etihad. First their CEO and now their partners.
I don't understand anyone's enthusiam for, yet to be launched, RiyadhAir. I could be a total flop of a second-rate Saudi airline like ever other one attempted by that state.
This wouldbe/could be collaboration is likely to end in tears, IMO.
@Throwawayname: That was only the case if you were flying on an AF codeshare. Flying Blue discontinued XP earning on non-SkyTeam airlines back in April 2024 and it was unrelated to their deal with Etihad.
@InceptionCat: That's wrong. If you re-read what I wrote, you will see that I flew as an AF elite on an AF-marketed EY-operated flight and got no benefits.
QR owns ~20% of IAG which owns British Airways, so it could manufacture a veto if it wanted to.
If this does indeed have to do with Riyadh Air, could it be suggesting that Saudia and Riyadh Air are more closely interwoven than we are led to believe? Saudia has been very quiet with all this courting of Riyadh Air by Skyteam members!
I believe you are wrong - DL cannot dictate ending partnership of this magnitude to another group, especially on an area not concerned by their JV with AFKL.
theyre almost certainly been paid to operate the flights there. its not like ppl are lining up to visit
it would be a pity. I used flying blue miles a few times to purchase Etihad Business Class tickets. Flying Blue had pretty reasonable rates using miles for Etihad Business Class!
The enthusiasm is likely the plane orders, world wide advertising, blog hype & cash investment. Do you understand now?
There is DL behind this. Remember that the arrogant DL has a seat in the board and 2.9 % Ownership of Air France/KLM where DL has an important voice in the board.
I hope klm stay with delta airline. What makes it easy for all people that fly with klm.
The partnership did not work because people are not professional in Air France KLM now. They hardly understand aviation business!
Etihad needs to join skyteam - it would be a perfetto fit and give Etihad itself an advantage network wise over Qatar (and maybe emirates)