Etihad joins forces with United. And will join Star Alliance tomorrow?

Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based airline, is reportedly about to end its partnership with American Airlines in favor of United. Before going even further?

Historically, Etihad’s American partner was American Airlines and a codeshare policy was set up between the two airlines.

Etihad and American are no longer on the same page.

But the relations between the two airlines were far from being in good shape in the context of a battle between the American airlines and the “Gulf Sisters”, which they accused of unfair competition. In this context it is American who has been the most vehement, even going so far as to put an end to the codeshare.

So it would not be illogical to see the rumor confirmed and that Etihad definitively cut ties with the airline member of the Oneworld alliance.

But since Etihad has at the same time drastically reduced its operations to the United States, it needs a partner so that it doesn’t miss out on this lucrative market, and that partner could be United.

United, the most “Gulf friendly” of the American airlines?

Why United? Because in the war against the ME-3 (the 3 Gulf airlines) it is surely the one that has been the least aggressive. But, above all, because today the airports served by Etihad in the United States are New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare. And by a happy coincidence O’Hare and Dulles are both United hubs. Imparable in terms of industrial logic. As for New York, leaving JFK for Newark where United operates should not be too problematic.

Which begs the question: why not see Etihad join Star Alliance.

Etihad in Star Alliance?

Etihad is indeed one of the few “beautiful airlines” not member of an alliance and if we could have thought at a time that it could join Skyteam it has not been the case. The Emirati airline has indeed preferred to develop bilateral partnerships (knowing that an opportunistic partnership is often easier than an alliance). These partnerships include Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA, Asiana, and Turkish, among others.

So if that doesn’t suggest anything (they also have partners at Skyteam) it would make sense for two reasons.

The first is that this is not the first time that Etihad has flirted with Star Alliance and that one day what has to happen always happens.

The second is that Etihad, a very nice airline, is not in good shape these days. It finds itself in need of developing stronger industrial partnerships and may have more interest in joining an alliance than in the past.

It would also be a great move for Star Alliance to add to its membership a prestigious airline known to be very attractive for award tickets purchases. Moreover, it would have a partner in the Gulf while Skyteam does not have one and Qatar’s love/hate relationship with One World (and especially American…we come back to that) always leave a doubt about a potential exit from the alliance.