KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) has inked a reciprocal codeshare partnership agreement with Emirates that will gain it access to over 90 destinations on the Emirates network across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas - and in return open its network in the Asia Pacific to Emirates - besides providing its customers exclusive frequent flyer benefits and an enhanced travel experience.

MAB will soon be adding its code on flights of Emirates to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, while Emirates will have its code on MAB flights to domestic routes in Malaysia, Southeast Asia and selected cities across the Asia Pacific.

This will give their respective customers a seamless international network connecting Malaysia to more than 90 destinations on the Emirates network across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, and exclusive frequent flyer benefits, according to a statement from MAB tonight.

The agreement to effect the reciprocal codeshare partnership was signed by MAB chief executive officer Christoph Mueller and Emirates president Sir Tim Clark on behalf of their respective companies, said MAB. 

"With the Emirates partnership, MAB customers will have access to 38 European, 15 Americas and 38 destinations in the Middle East and Africa and Indian Ocean, whilst Emirates’ customers will have access to MAB's extensive Asia Pacific network with up to 300 daily departures in the region. 

"Sales under this codeshare agreement will commence from February 1, 2016," the statement read.

Mueller said the strategic partnership "paves the path towards an integrated customer proposition offering for both airlines", and that "the improved connectivity will enable MAB customers to reach up to 38 destinations in Europe on a daily and even double daily basis for key European cities such as Zurich, Rome, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Barcelona".

"Not only will this [partnership] provide Malaysians unprecedented super-connectivity to the whole world, it will also make it much easier for travellers from all corners of the globe to visit Malaysia and experience its rich culture, nature and Malaysian hospitality. This is part of the national carrier’s initiative towards enhancing air connectivity with key priority markets overseas for increased tourist arrivals into Malaysia,” he added.

“Our new codeshare agreement with Malaysia Airlines will enable our passengers to experience new destinations and improved connectivity in the ever-popular Southeast Asia region, and also additional comforts such as reciprocal lounge access and priority check-in,” said Clark.