Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has renewed its partnership with Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering codesharing, frequent-flyer programme reciprocity, airport lounge access, special pro rate and air pass agreements, and cargo cooperation.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: "Two-way trade between the UAE and the Philippines was valued at USD1.4billion in 2013 and the UAE is the Philippines’ third-largest trading partner in the Middle East. Closer cooperation in the cargo arena, one of Etihad Airways’ most successful divisions, has the potential for a boost to each airline’s bottom-line and to the economies of our two great nations.”

Etihad Airways launched services between Abu Dhabi International and Manila Ninoy Aquino International in February 2006 and today offers twice-daily B777-300ER flights between the capitals. In 2013, the Abu Dhabi-Manila route was the airline’s second busiest route (547,68 passengers) in its global network. The airline employs nearly 1000 Filipinos worldwide including more than 270 cabin crew and over 20 pilots. Philippine Airlines currently operates a five times weekly A330-300 service linking Manila with Abu Dhabi, its low-cost carrier subsidiary PAL Express (2P, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) also serves Dubai International six times weekly with an A330-300 (the Dubai service currently operates to Dubai World Central during the runway closure at Dubai International).