Etihad, Lufthansa extend cooperation

Abu Dhabi – Etihad Aviation Group and Lufthansa German Airlines, part of Europe’s largest aviation group, unveiled details of a new commercial partnership on Wednesday.

The two airline groups have concluded a $100m global catering agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.

Addressing a press conference in Abu Dhabi, the CEOs of both airline groups spelled out plans to broaden their commercial partnership.                  
James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group president and CEO said partnerships are at the heart of its strategy and remain fundamental to compete effectively and efficiently in a complex and competitive global market.

“Our collaboration with one of the aviation industry’s most established and recognised brands, is undoubtedly the most significant non-equity partnership with an airline we have ever announced," said Hogan.

“This partnership is the platform for a much wider strategic collaboration between our two organisations. It demonstrates the commitment of the Etihad Aviation Group Board and Abu Dhabi to our European growth strategy.”

Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa Group chair and CEO welcomed the opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the Etihad Aviation Group.

"Together we can create added value for our customers and shareholders. Partnering with the Etihad Aviation Group fits perfectly with the Lufthansa Group’s global strategy for our passenger airlines and service companies,” said Spohr.  

The four-year catering contract will see Lufthansa’s LSG Sky chefs provide catering services to Etihad Airways in 16 cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Etihad Aviation Group and Lufthansa Technik (LHT) also signed an MoU to explore cooperation in maintenance, repair and overhaul services across Etihad Airways and its airline equity partners, and opportunities for synergies with Etihad Airways Engineering.

Etihad Airways and Lufthansa are also exploring further cooperation in a number of areas, including freight operations, procurement and passenger services to improve their competitive offering globally and in the European market.

The previously announced codeshare between the two airline groups goes on sale on Wednesday for flights between Abu Dhabi and Germany.

The codeshare agreement will grow both carriers’ global networks, giving Lufthansa increased access to important feeder markets throughout the Indian Subcontinent via Abu Dhabi, while Etihad will gain access into South America through Germany.

The Lufthansa Group signed an agreement in December 2016 with airberlin, in which Etihad Aviation Group holds a 29% stake, for the wet-lease of 38 aircraft. Lufthansa’s point-to-point carrier Eurowings will wet lease 33 aircraft, and Austrian Airlines, a Lufthansa Group airline, will take on five aircraft.

The agreement between Eurowings and Air Berlin will last for six years and is slated to begin on 10 February 2017 when the first aircraft starts operating for Eurowings.