The two global airlines in the United Arab Emirates, Etihad and Emirates, will begin interlining this summer in an effort to facilitate more tourism to the UAE.
Under a memorandum of understanding, customers of each airline will be able to purchase a single ticket to fly into either Dubai or Abu Dhabi and then return from the other airport. Emirates' hub is in Dubai, and Etihad's is in Abu Dhabi.
Flyers will also be able to return on either airline to a different city than they departed from. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are approximately 80 miles apart.
The airlines said the arrangement "aims to capitalize on opportunities to boost tourism to the UAE from key source markets by enabling visitors to experience more than one destination in a single itinerary."
The airlines said that during initial phases, the interline partnership will focus on attracting visitors to the UAE from Europe and China. The interline won't immediately be activated for U.S. travelers.
A specific activation date for the interline has not been announced.
Emirates president Tim Clark said deeper cooperation between Emirates and Etihad could be in the offing.
"We believe this new agreement provides a strong foundation to develop further opportunities between both airlines and is an example of our commitment to the UAE's vision for continued economic diversification," he said.