China Eastern and Etihad Expand Codeshare Network from September 2025

(DUBAI) China Eastern Airlines and Etihad Airways will expand their codeshare network and deepen their joint venture from early September 2025, linking major Chinese cities with the United Arab Emirates and adding onward connections across the Middle East. The airlines confirmed the timeline alongside details of new routes beyond Abu Dhabi, integrated loyalty benefits, and a plan to scale up the new Shanghai–Abu Dhabi service to daily operations by September 12, 2025.

The joint venture, launched at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai on April 30, 2025, follows China Eastern’s inaugural Shanghai–Abu Dhabi flight on April 28, 2025, and is the first such agreement between a Middle Eastern and a Chinese carrier.

Executive views and strategic rationale

Executives from both airlines described the partnership as a practical step to build smoother travel between China and the UAE, while giving customers more choice and simpler booking under shared flight codes.

• Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer: “The official launch of our Joint Venture with China Eastern is a major leap forward,” noting aligned loyalty programs and broader reach.
• Wan Qingchao, China Eastern’s Executive Vice President, highlighted Abu Dhabi’s new Zayed International Airport as a strong base for transit growth under the Belt and Road vision.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the JV signals tighter commercial ties that could shift how carriers in Asia and the Gulf plan growth, with shared scheduling and sales helping fill planes and shorten connection times. Industry watchers see the agreement as a model other airlines may follow to widen access without adding separate flights on every route pair.

Route and schedule changes from September 2025

From early September, the expanded codeshare will enable more one-ticket itineraries via Abu Dhabi and through China Eastern’s hubs in Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Daxing. The airlines confirmed the following codeshare coverage:

• China Eastern-coded travel on Etihad-operated flights from Abu Dhabi to:
  • Bahrain
  • Beirut
  • El Dabaa (El Alamein)
  • Kuwait City
  • Muscat
  • Tel Aviv
• Etihad-coded travel on China Eastern-operated flights linking:
  • Beijing Daxing with Changsha, Chengdu (Shuangliu and Tianfu), Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi’an, and more
  • Shanghai Pudong with Altay, Beijing Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dali, and other cities

The China Eastern Shanghai Pudong–Abu Dhabi service, which began with four weekly flights, will step up to daily service from September 12, 2025.

Aircraft, seat map and timings

• Operating flights: MU237 / MU238
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
• Seat configuration: 30 business and 202 economy seats
• Onboard: high-speed inflight Wi‑Fi

Planned timings:
– Shanghai departure 15:10, Abu Dhabi arrival 21:20
– Abu Dhabi departure 23:20, Shanghai arrival 12:40 the next day

Loyalty integration

As part of the tie-up, loyalty members have been able to earn and redeem across both networks since June 1, 2025.

• Etihad Guest and Eastern Miles accounts can now be used interchangeably on eligible flights when booked via either airline or through authorized agents.
• Customers should enter their loyalty number at booking to ensure miles post correctly.

What this means for travelers and businesses

The broadened codeshare network brings practical gains for people moving between China and the UAE—and onward across the region.

Key traveler benefits:
– More one-stop options: Cities such as Xi’an, Kunming, Shenzhen, or Wuhan can connect through Shanghai Pudong or Beijing Daxing to Abu Dhabi with one ticket and aligned baggage rules.
– Wider Middle East access: Abu Dhabi becomes a hub to Bahrain, Beirut, Kuwait City, Muscat, Tel Aviv, and Egypt’s North Coast (El Dabaa/El Alamein) under a single booking.
– Simpler loyalty plans: Earning and redeeming with Etihad Guest or Eastern Miles on either airline removes guesswork for frequent travelers.

Business and tourism benefits:
– Steadier schedules and shared commercial planning help with travel budgeting and corporate contracts.
– Tourism boards benefit from added seat capacity and smoother booking paths that reduce connection stress for first-time visitors.

Practical traveler advice:
1. Check the operating carrier on codeshare sectors to know check-in desks, baggage rules, and onboard services.
2. Enter your Etihad Guest or Eastern Miles number at booking to ensure miles post correctly.
3. Confirm transit times and terminal details in Abu Dhabi to avoid tight connections, especially during peak evening waves.

Officials emphasize Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a bridge for China–Middle East trips. The partnership supports the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthens UAE–China economic ties, and improves hub connectivity at Zayed International Airport.

Visas, booking and customer support

While the JV focuses on commercial operations rather than border rules, visitors should plan ahead for entry requirements.

• For visa information related to travel to the United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪, consult the UAE government’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security at the official ICP portal: UAE ICP. This resource provides current guidance on visas and travel permissions for short and long stays.

Booking and support:
– Customers can buy tickets on either airline’s website or through approved travel agents.
– Partner codes will appear as MU or EY on shared flights.
– Customer support remains available through each airline’s call centers and online channels for booking and loyalty questions.

Background and likely impacts

Timeline highlights:
– Memorandum of Understanding signed: December 2023 (codeshare, frequent flyer, cargo, sustainability cooperation)
– Joint venture announced: June 2024
– Joint venture formally launched: April 30, 2025
– China Eastern’s Shanghai–Abu Dhabi inaugural flight: April 28, 2025

China Eastern’s Shanghai–Abu Dhabi route complements its existing UAE services to Dubai from Kunming, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Xi’an, reflecting a strategic bet on Abu Dhabi as a two-way hub.

Aviation specialists point to three likely effects:
1. Schedule consistency: Daily Shanghai–Abu Dhabi flights from mid-September support business travel and fixed meeting timetables.
2. Broader city reach: Codeshare coverage across more than 30 Chinese cities reaches inland growth centers beyond the major coastal hubs, attracting trade and tourism.
3. Immediate loyalty value: Integration from June creates instant benefits for frequent flyers who can pool miles and redeem across both networks.

Both airlines say more work is underway to align products, marketing, and customer experience, with room to add routes as demand grows. Industry analysts expect competing carriers in Asia and the Middle East to study similar models to extend reach without adding costly standalone capacity.

Practical tests for the JV’s success

As the joint venture matures, key success factors will be:
– Day-to-day reliability (on-time operations at Shanghai and Abu Dhabi)
– Clear rebooking and disruption handling
– Steady award seat availability across both frequent-flyer programs

Those operational factors often determine whether travelers remain loyal to a partner pair. For now, the clarity of the September codeshare expansion and the confirmed step-up to daily Shanghai–Abu Dhabi flights give customers firm dates to plan around and a wider map to choose from.