Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Kos, Corfu, Paros, Thessaloniki and more have become significantly easier to reach for international travelers thanks to a landmark codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and SKY express, enabling seamless connectivity through Athens to 24 Greek islands and key Eastern Mediterranean cities with one ticket, streamlined check-in, and automatic baggage transfers—positioning Greece as a top-tier, easily accessible destination for global tourism.
Etihad Airways and SKY Express Sign Landmark Codeshare Partnership to Better Connect Greece and the Mediterranean region
ABU DHABI, The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Greece’s largest commercial airline, SKY express, have signed a codeshare agreement effective from 28th June, 2021. Effective July 14, 2025, this partnership delivers groundbreaking connectivity to those travelling between Greece’s wide-ranging island group and major cities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This historic collaboration will provide a major boost to tourism between the UAE and Greece, making travel simpler and easier, while also exploring further opportunities for commercial cooperation. By combining Etihad’s extensive global network with SKY express’s domestic network.
New Leisure Horizons Over 24 Islands and Beyond
Travellers flying with Etihad Airways will now be able to book and connect with SKY express flights from Etihad destinations in Europe and other parts of the world to Greece. Here, you will find the biggest islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes and Kos, as well as equally amazing cities like Thessaloniki and lesser known islands of Paros, Corfu or Naxos. In all, the partnership provides access to 24 islands and three metropolises, allowing international visitors more options than ever to explore all the diversity of Greece.
This wide expansion of the network also allows Etihad to offer its passengers a larger and yet wholesome product without increasing its own domestic flying. The alliance leverages SKY express’s extensive experience and expertise in flying in Greek airspace, and operating effectively throughout the region.
Unified Booking and Effortless Connectivity
Among the many highlights of this codeshare collaboration, is a simplified passenger experience. DUBAI: Companies in the tourism sector are throwing open the doors to holiday packages that combine a flight with a cruise itinerary for the first time, thanks to a deal signed on Monday. Travellers can now book their entire trip, from international departure to island destination, through the Etihad website, mobile app or approved travel agencies. You can book the entire itinerary with only one single booking reference – no need to deal with booking multiple tickets or having to manage travel plans.
Travellers will also enjoy the convenience of co-ordinated check-in and automatic baggage transfer with both airlines. it also means less waiting and less chance of lost luggage (or someone else grabbing yours) and it makes for a more convenient journey (generally with short layovers in Athens).
Athens: A Node of Global Linkage
Partnership to dramatically increase the prominence of Athens as a major travel hub. “As a gateway to both Greece and Southeast Europe as well as the Mediterranean, Athens International Airport also serves as a vital link between Etihad’s global route network and SKY express’s regional operations.” The collaboration will serve to raise traffic through the capital and furtherhighlight Athens as a vital link between the East and West.
Apart from these passenger numbers, this partnership would benefit Athens as it could be strengthened into a regional air traffic center. Enabling a seamless connection from long-haul to short-haul travel, the codeshare enhances connectivity in Athens and its ability to accommodate complex multi-stop itineraries.
Economic and Tourism Uptick for Greece
With more and more interest on Greek destinations around the world, the Etihad-SKY express partnership comes at the right time. Greece has long been one of Europe’s premier holiday destinations, attracting millions of visitors a year to its ancient archaeological sites, glossy and hedonistic capital, and beaches as beautiful as they are sun-drenched.
This code-share will help spread tourism to a wider part of the country. In steering travelers beyond Athens and Thessaloniki to lesser island economies, the push helps curtail overtourism in more crowded places and revs commercial engines in under-visited areas. It leaves the way open to year-round travel by making it easier to see the less known but similarly beautiful spots across the Greek archipelago.
Expanding Regional Travel Opportunities
And while Greece is the main story here, the codeshare’s extend into Eastern Mediterranean cities opens up more opportunities for travellers. The deal gives visitors an entry point to places that aren’t typically on the well-trod tourist trail but are rich with culture and history. Which for Etihad means expanding your value proposition by enabling long-haul flights to be connected to intimate, regional journeys that further but the customer engage in your brand.
This fits in well with current travel trends, where tourists want a more personalized experience and variety in their trip outside of a set schedule. The collaboration unlocks a host of curated island-hopping expeditions, cultural immersions and seafaring adventures, with dependable air travel at its core.
The Future of Cooperation and Growth_BUILDING FOR GROWTH AND FUTURE COLLABORATION
For Etihad, the decision to team up with SKY express is indicative of its focus on optimising its network and scaling in the regions without having to make a significant financial commitment in the form of aircraft order. Meanwhile, SKY express is exposed to a broader global market, helping increase passenger numbers and strengthening its fleets within Greece’s aviation industry.
This successful new partnership could significantly pave the way forward for what is possible, in terms of deeper partnerships, in the loyalty, seasonal route planning and joint marketing areas of the business. It also emphasises the increasing significance of codeshare arrangements in today’s aviation set-up with alliances come flexibility, savings on costs, and additional routes.
Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Kos, Corfu, Paros, Thessaloniki and more are just a flight away for global travelers, together with Etihad and SKY express’s new codeshare agreement, which offers convenient one-stop booking and connectivity via Athens.
The Eithad-SKY express codeshare is a historic regional aviation cooperation. By connecting global and local networks, it helps travelers to Greece have a more seamless, faster and integrated access to the best the country has to offer. It also enhances both airlines’ competitive standing and has a positive impact on the Greek tourism market and overall economic growth.
