News Summary: Gulf’s airlines forge new links

Published August 1, 2012 5:47pm ET



HIGH FLIERS: The Persian Gulf’s three big airlines are increasingly forging cross-border partnerships to extend their reach deeper into international markets.

TAKING OFF: Etihad and Aer Lingus announced a codeshare deal Monday designed to feed traffic into one another’s networks. Australia’s Qantas s in talks with Dubai-based Emirates. And Qatar Airways, which last year bought more than a third of European freight airline Cargolux, wants to launch a carrier to serve Saudi Arabia’s domestic market.

CRUISING: The push is likely to strengthen increasingly formidable Gulf hubs at a time when older airlines from the U.S. to Australia are struggling.