Etihad Airways has said it will provide Kuwait-based air travellers with greater access to its expanding global network, following the signing of a new code share agreement with Kuwait Airways on flights between Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

Under the deal, which comes into effect on February 1, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will place its two-letter 'EY' code on both of Kuwait Airways' weekly services between Kuwait and Etihad's own home base, said the UAE national carrier in a press release.

In turn, Kuwait Airways will place its own 'KU' code on the 19 weekly services operated by Etihad on the same route.

The agreement will give air travellers a choice of 21 weekly flights between the two capital cities and provide Kuwait-based travellers with convenient access to Abu Dhabi and the rest of Etihad's expanding global network.

Etihad Airways' chief executive James Hogan said: 'As well as providing air travellers with a greater choice of flights between the UAE and Kuwait, this new code share agreement will also provide customers of both our airlines with greater access to each other's expanding global networks.'

Etihad currently has 12 other code share agreements with Aer Arann, Bangkok Airways, Brussels Airlines, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Saudi Arabia Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Yemen Airways and UK-based airline, bmi.-TradeArabia News Service