Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Czech Airlines.

The agreement means that Czech Airlines will launch direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Prague on 21 September.

The airline will now be able to connect with cities, including Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bahrain and Kuwait. Czech Airlines will also now be able to fly on to Colombo, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“As the world’s leading airline, this new strategic relationship, which includes but is not limited to just a codeshare agreement, illustrates Etihad’s growing ambitions in the central and Eastern Europe region,” says Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad Airways.

On 23 June, Etihad Crystal Cargo took delivery of a Boeing 777 freighter plane (MEED 23:6:11).