UAE-based Etihad Aviation Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Lufthansa Technik (LHT) to cooperate in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services across Etihad Airways and its airline equity partners.
Under the new MoU, Etihad Aviation Group will also explore opportunities for synergies between its aircraft MRO unit, Etihad Airways Engineering, and LHT.
Both Etihad and Lufthansa have also entered a $100m global catering agreement.
As part of the four-year deal, Lufthansa’s LSG Sky chefs will provide catering services to Etihad Airways in 16 cities across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Etihad Aviation Group president and CEO James Hogan said: “Partnerships are at the heart of our strategy and remain fundamental for us 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.
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By GlobalData“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.”
Both airlines will also explore further cooperation in fields such as freight operations, procurement and passenger services to improve their competitive offering worldwide.
Last December, Lufthansa Group signed an agreement with Air Berlin, in which Etihad Aviation Group holds a 29% stake, for the wet-lease of 38 aircraft.
