Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has expanded its codeshare partnership with Belavia – Belarusian Airlines, to offer travellers a daily service between Abu Dhabi and Kiev, Ukraine, via Minsk National Airport.

Under the agreement, which commenced from 20 July 2015, Etihad Airways has placed its EY flight code on Belavia’s daily services between Minsk and Kiev.

Belavia and Etihad Airways signed an initial codeshare agreement in 2013, allowing travellers to fly on Etihad-operated flights from Minsk to Abu Dhabi, and onwards to Ho Chi Minh City, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

Belavia Airlines General Director, Anatoly Gusarov, said: “Our partnership with one of the world’s leading airlines is rooted in a vision of offering the best services and experiences to our customers, we have been pleased with our journey together so far, and look forward to growing our partnership and widening our horizons.”

During the two-year partnership, more than 750 joint flights were operated on the Abu Dhabi – Minsk route, and both airlines carried over 110 thousand travellers.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, Kevin Knight, said: “The strategic partnership with Belavia Airlines establishes our presence in the Ukrainian market, and provides air travellers with more options to fly to Minsk and onwards to Kiev.

“The codeshare also gives Etihad Airways’ customers a new choice of destination with the benefit of a single combined ticket.”