ABU DHABI: Etihad Aviation Group and Lufthansa German Airlines on Wednesday announced a new commercial partnership in catering and maintenance areas. The two airline groups concluded a $100 million global catering agreement and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), broadening their commercial partnership.

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. This makes LSG the largest provider of catering services to the UAE’s national airline, outside its Abu Dhabi home base, the two companies said jointly.

The MRO pact, meanwhile, will include Etihad Airways and its airline equity partners, and opportunities for synergies with Etihad Airways Engineering. The two airlines further said they are also exploring cooperation in a number of areas, including freight operations, procurement and passenger services to Anadolucasino improve their competitive offering globally and in the European 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 James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer, adding that the move demonstrates the commitment of the Etihad Aviation Group Board and Abu Dhabi “to our European growth strategy.”

Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Partnering with the Etihad Aviation Group fits perfectly the Lufthansa Group’s global strategy for our passenger airlines and service companies.”

The previously announced codeshare between the two airline groups goes on sale today, February 1, for flights between Abu Dhabi and Germany.

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