Etihad Airways said Thursday it was “disappointed” by the decision taken by American Airlines to terminate a code-share deal between the two carriers, adding that it remained committed to the US market despite the termination. “We view the decision by American Airlines as being anti-competitive and anti-consumer. This action will reduce choices for consumers and may result in higher fares for travellers to and from the US,” an Etihad Airways spokesperson said. American Airlines on Wednesday ended code-share deals with Etihad Airways as well as Qatar Airways, saying the termination of the code-share agreement is effective from March 25, 2018. The move comes amid an ongoing feud over what American Airlines claims are illegal subsidies received by Gulf carriers from their respective governments. (Emirates does not have a code-share deal with American.) American, Delta and United filed a report in 2015 claiming that the three major Gulf carriers (Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar) received billions of dollars in government subsidies to allow them to compete unfairly and take up market share. The Gulf carriers, including Emirates, have long denied those claims. “Etihad Airways and many of the leading consumer and business groups in the US have categorically rejected the allegations of American and the two other dominant US carriers regarding violations of the relevant air transportation agreements,” Etihad’s spokesperson said, adding that Etihad’s six daily flights to the US “in no way threaten American Airlines,” which, together with its regional partner American Eagle, operates 6,700 daily flights to 50 countries.<br/>
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Etihad Airways said Wednesday it is increasing frequencies to Egypt and Nigeria by adding year-round flights between its Abu Dhabi hub and both Cairo and Lagos starting later this year. A fifth daily scheduled service will be introduced on the Cairo route effective October 1, taking frequency to the Egyptian capital to 35 flights a week from 28. Etihad will also increase frequency to Lagos from four a week to five services starting December 2.<br/>