Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain International) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) wherein the two Gulf-based carriers have pledged to enhance their commercial and operational ties.

Announced during the 2018 Bahrain International Airshow, the wide-ranging MOU has scope for the introduction of joint codeshare operations between Abu Dhabi International and Bahrain International, as well as on the global flight networks beyond the two carriers’ GCC hubs.

The MOU also contains plans for greater commercial cooperation in the fields of cargo, engineering, passenger experience, and the optimisation of pilot training facilities.

“The deep ties between Abu Dhabi and Manama are well-known in the aviation world and date back nearly 70 years," Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said. "Therefore the natural way to build upon those ties is to examine ways in which the two flag carriers – Etihad and Gulf Air – can work more closely together to improve business operations and enhance the experience for our guests."

“We look forward to the Etihad and Gulf Air teams coming together during the next few months to look at how we can put that in place, whether it is in codeshare, engineering, cargo, or through our frequent flyer programmes.”

In addition to exploring codeshare operations, the teams at Etihad Guest and Gulf Air Falconflyer loyalty programmes will shortly begin discussions which would see members of each programme being offered reciprocal earn and burn opportunities.

The teams in both carriers’ engineering and cargo divisions are also set to begin talks about greater cooperation. These discussions would look at optimising MRO opportunities, as well as ways to increase volumes of freighter traffic flowing into and out of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Gulf Air currently operates four return daily flights between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi while Etihad currently operates three return daily A320-200 flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.