Emirates, United Airlines set to announce codeshare

United Airlines and Emirates have generated significant excitement throughout the world today. United Airlines posted a vague message on Twitter and asked if Emirates wanted "to hang (ar) out on September 14." Emirates then replied that it would meet United on that day.

United on Tuesday sent an invitation to reporters to a "special event" on Sept 14 titled "Come fly with us" with Chief Executive Scott Kirby and Emirates President Tim Clark in Washington.

According to Jon Ostrower of The Air Current, both airlines plan to announce a codeshare agreement. A short time after United and Emirates' Twitter exchange, an image surfaced on social media that is an invite to an event between the two airlines on September 14.

After receiving government approvals, a codeshare would allow both airlines' customers access to additional destinations that each do not currently serve. The agreement is likely to help United better compete for customers flying to the Gulf region.

American Airlines recently announced an expansion of its strategic alliance with Qatar Airways, originally announced two years ago. The expansion of the partnership was a new codeshare agreement that expanded to an additional 16 countries. In June, American also launched a new nonstop service from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. This new route established American Airlines as the only United States airline to serve the Gulf region.

A codeshare with United would be Emirates' second in the United States. Emirates currently has a codeshare agreement with JetBlue and previously had one with Alaska Airlines. The partnership with Alaska Airlines was discontinued after the airline joined oneworld and began working more closely with Qatar Airways. The Gulf carrier currently serves twelve cities in the United States, including every United Airlines hub except Denver.