Emirates Adds Iberian Connections with Codesharing

News Release, 20 December 2012

Emirates Adds Iberian Connections with Codesharing

Emirates and TAP Portugal have today announced the start of a reciprocal codeshare agreement enabling passengers from both airlines to benefit from seamless connections effective from tomorrow.

The reciprocal codeshare will permit customers to enjoy the convenience of a single combined ticket for Emirates and TAP Portugal-operated flights, in addition to linking Emirates’ frequent flyer programme, Skywards, and TAP’s Victoria frequent flyer programme. The new codeshare services are available for sale from today.

Under the agreement, Emirates’ flight number will be placed on TAP services from Lisbon to Porto, Faro and Funchal in Portugal as well as Seville, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. TAP will place its code and flight number on several Emirates’ services between Lisbon and Dubai, to Bangkok, Hong Kong*, Kuala Lumpur* and Singapore.

Emirates currently operates a daily non-stop flight between Dubai and Lisbon Airport with its 274 seat Boeing 777-200ER. All four daily Emirates flights between New Zealand and Dubai provide direct connections with the Lisbon service in each direction.

Flight EK 191 departs from Dubai at 9.15am and arrives in Lisbon at 2.45pm local time, allowing for seamless connections to a number of TAP services. The return flight, EK 192, departs Lisbon at 5.55pm and arrives in Dubai at 4.35am the next day.

“Europe is a strategic market for Emirates with a strong level of growth and customer engagement in 2012. This new codeshare agreement with TAP is another key element in our expansion plan across the region. In addition to convenient connections, the reciprocal frequent flyer agreement offers additional benefits for our valued Skywards members by enabling them to earn and redeem their Skywards Miles when flying with TAP,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales Worldwide.

Frequent flyers of both airlines will be able to accrue and redeem Skywards Miles with Emirates and Victoria Bonus Miles with TAP** and will benefit from one-stop check-in and baggage transfer to their connecting flight. Mileage redemptions will be available on a reciprocal basis, for both Economy and Business Class flights. Skywards members will be able to accrue Skywards Miles when flying in Economy or Executive Class with TAP. Victoria members travelling on Emirates’ flights will be able to accrue Miles in Economy Class, Business Class and First Class.

TAP Portugal is the leading Portuguese airline, in operation since 1945 and a member of Star Alliance since March 2005. Its hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, and North and South America, where TAP stands out as the international leading carrier in operation to Brazil. The company’s network comprises 76 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates a modern fleet of 55 Airbus aircraft, to which can be added some 16 aircraft operating in the colours of PGA colours, the TAP regional carrier.

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