Etihad Airways Expands Air-Rail Partnership With Accesrail in Europe

Tuesday, August 18, 2020/ Editor -

• Seamless air-rail connections in Germany, the UK, and soon Italy

• Expanded inter-city coach network with National Express in the UK

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, August 18, 2020: Etihad Airways (Etihad) has announced the expansion of its partnership with AccesRail, the world’s leading provider of air-rail intermodal solutions. The partnership allows Etihad to use AccesRail's expertise to enable its customers to book train and coach tickets in Europe in conjunction with their air fare using the airline’s online booking platform, or through their travel agency.

Etihad’s guests can connect to and from their international flights to rail routes operated by major European railway companies using the airline’s ‘EY’ code, including an expanded network of seven rail routes on Germany’s Deutsche Bahn from Frankfurt Main Airport. The partnership with AccesRail has also been extended to the United Kingdom to include 16 destinations westbound from London Heathrow on Great Western Railway, and subject to final government approval, to 28 cities across Italy on the country’s primary rail operator, Trenitalia.

The expansion will also see additional inter-city coach services in the United Kingdom operated by National Express to 28 major British towns and cities from London Heathrow, and five from Manchester Airport.

Ali Saleh, Etihad Airways Vice President Alliances and Partnerships, said: “This is a tremendous product, which provides convenient rail or coach connections at some of our key gateways in Europe, enabling customers to commence their Etihad journey from multiple domestic points with the best fares available, all on the same itinerary and ticket.

“As we aim to personalise the guest experience in-flight by providing more choice and greater customisation, we continue to source more strategic partnerships which will mirror this on the ground, giving options and benefits to the many who choose to travel with us in Europe. We soon hope to expand the partnership with AccesRail to more continents.”

Etihad Airways has operated a similar agreement with France’s SNCF, providing codeshare services to 20 destinations on the French domestic rail network from the airline’s Paris gateway.

Andrew Popescu, Vice President Business Development, AccesRail, said: “We are excited to be deepening our Etihad-AccesRail cooperation and look forward to continuing with Etihad on

a global scale. Through this enhanced AccesRail partnership, Etihad will be able, now and in the future, to offer its customers more destinations and more possibilities.”

In operation for more than 20 years, Montreal-headquartered AccesRail is present on most global GDS systems, and partnering with major rail companies in Europe, USA, Canada, Korea, and Japan, making it possible for customers to book and purchase air and rail travel on the same itinerary.

Deutsche Bahn (Germany)

From	To
FRA - Frankfurt	QDU - Dusseldorf
	ZMB - Hamburg
	ZVR - Hannover
	XIT - Leipzig Halle
	ZMU - Munich
	ZAQ - Nuremberg
	ZWS - Stuttgart

Great Western Railway (United Kingdom)

From	To
LHR - London Heathrow	QQX - Bath
	UBW - Bridgwater
	BPR - Bristol Parkway
	TPB - Bristol Temple Meads
	CFW - Cardiff
	EXS - Exeter
	GLO - Gloucester
	XNE - Newport
	OXQ - Oxford
	PCW - Par
	PZE - Penzance
	PLH - Plymouth
	USX - St Austell
	SWS - Swansea
	XWS - Swindon
	TTY - Taunton

National Express coach services (United Kingdom)

From	To
MAN - Manchester	BHX - Birmingham
	ZFC - Bradford
	ZLZ - Leeds
	LXC - Liverpool
	ZMP - Manchester
LHR - London Heathrow	QQX - Bath Spa
	BHX - Birmingham
	BOH - Bournemouth
	BSH - Brighton
	BRS - Bristol
	CBG - Cambridge
	CWL - Cardiff
	CHW - Cheltenham Spa
	CLB - Colchester
	CVT - Coventry
	EXT - Exeter
	LGW - Gatwick
	QEW - Leicester
	LTN - Luton Airport
	KYN - Milton Keynes
	XNE - Newport
	NWI - Norwich
	ZGB - Nottingham
	OXF - Oxford
	POQ - Poole
	PLH - Plymouth
	RNW - Ringwood
	SOU - Southampton
	STN - Stansted
	SWS - Swansea
	XWS - Swindon
	TTY - Taunton
	WNC - Winchester