Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates has inked a new codeshare and frequent flyer agreement with Australian budget airline Jetstar.

The deal is set to open up new destinations for Emirates passengers across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia as the Dubai-based airline continues to connect people, places and passions.

Emirates said its code will now be placed on a number of routes operated by Jetstar Airways in Australia and New Zealand and Jetstar Asia, giving passengers access to 27 new routes and six new destinations such as Bali in Indonesia, Byron Bay in Australia, Dunedin in New Zealand and Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Members of Emirates Skywards, the airline’s frequent flyer programme, will be able to earn Miles for flights on Jetstar-operated routes which have the Emirates code, they will also be able to use their Miles to purchase reward flights on any Jetstar operated route, starting from just 7,025 Skywards Miles, said a senior official..

“This new link between Emirates and Jetstar offers our passengers a number of benefits including new routes to destinations that are not part of the Emirates network today,” remarked Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ divisional senior VP (Planning, Aeropolitical & Industry Affairs).

“It is also fantastic news for our Emirates Skywards members, giving them more options to use their miles to explore new countries and cultures,” added Kazim.

Lisa Brock, Jetstar Group chief commercial officer said the agreement will see it bring its extensive Asia Pacific network consisting of some of the most popular leisure destinations, to the doorstep of Emirates passengers across the globe.

“Working with Emirates we have created a product and a network offering that will provide Emirates passengers with new holiday options throughout South East Asia including Bali, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and new destinations across Australia and New Zealand,” noted Brock.

“Emirates customers travelling on Jetstar will enjoy a range of full service fare features such as food and beverage options and the same luggage allowance they would have on Emirates,” she added.

From April 6, all Emirates’ passengers on Jetstar flights will receive boarding passes on check-in at their first international departure point for connecting international services.

The codeshare includes seven domestic routes in Australia to add to the 50 that Emirates already codeshares with cornerstone investor in the Jetstar Group, Qantas; four new routes in New Zealand, six new routes between Australian and New Zealand over the Tasman Sea and ten international routes out of Singapore to Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong, said the Emirates statement.

Emirates/ Jetstar codeshare itineraries will be on sale from today (February 13) for travel from April 6. Emirates frequent flyers will be able to redeem flights with points from March 1, it added.-TradeArabia News Service