Etihad Airways capped a busy week by launching a codeshare and reciprocal loyalty agreement with Hong Kong Airlines on 7 November 2025. Under the deal, Abu Dhabi–Hong Kong flights operated by Etihad will carry Hong Kong Airlines’ ‘HX’ code, while select Hong Kong–Japan sectors will be marketed as Etihad ‘EY’ services. Travellers enjoy single-ticket itineraries, through-checked baggage and mileage accrual across both carriers.
The partnership restores a key Asian linkage that had languished since pandemic disruptions and aligns neatly with Etihad’s new Hong Kong service inaugurated the same day. For UAE-based corporates with manufacturing footprints in Guangdong or tech teams in Japan, the agreement means fewer layovers and simplified travel-policy compliance.
![Etihad-Hong Kong Airlines Codeshare Expands UAE Connectivity to Greater China and Japan]()
Etihad Guest members gain earn-and-burn access to Hong Kong Airlines’ regional network, while Fortune Wings Club members can now tap Etihad’s route map to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Analysts say the codeshare also positions Abu Dhabi as an alternative hub for travellers wary of congestion at traditional Southeast Asian gateways.
From an immigration standpoint, seamless transit through Abu Dhabi International Airport’s biometric smart-gate system reduces connection times to under 75 minutes, aiding duty-of-care obligations. Cargo divisions are eyeing high-value electronics and pharma shipments that could flow via the new corridor.
Both airlines hinted at deeper collaboration, including joint lounge access and interline e-commerce cargo products—developments that would further cement Abu Dhabi’s role in East-West trade.
The partnership restores a key Asian linkage that had languished since pandemic disruptions and aligns neatly with Etihad’s new Hong Kong service inaugurated the same day. For UAE-based corporates with manufacturing footprints in Guangdong or tech teams in Japan, the agreement means fewer layovers and simplified travel-policy compliance.
Etihad Guest members gain earn-and-burn access to Hong Kong Airlines’ regional network, while Fortune Wings Club members can now tap Etihad’s route map to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Analysts say the codeshare also positions Abu Dhabi as an alternative hub for travellers wary of congestion at traditional Southeast Asian gateways.
From an immigration standpoint, seamless transit through Abu Dhabi International Airport’s biometric smart-gate system reduces connection times to under 75 minutes, aiding duty-of-care obligations. Cargo divisions are eyeing high-value electronics and pharma shipments that could flow via the new corridor.
Both airlines hinted at deeper collaboration, including joint lounge access and interline e-commerce cargo products—developments that would further cement Abu Dhabi’s role in East-West trade.
