Rival airlines Emirates, Etihad step closer with
security pact
Send a link to a friend
[January 08, 2018]
DUBAI (Reuters) - Emirates [EMIRA.UL]
and Etihad Airways signed a security pact on Monday to share information
and intelligence, the first agreement between the two rival airlines
based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Emirates and Etihad, backed by their state owners, have competed almost
head-to-head developing global networks from their respective hubs in
Dubai and Abu Dhabi that are just 128 kilometers apart.
Emirates is owned by the government of Dubai, and Etihad is owned by the
government of Abu Dhabi.

Monday's memorandum of understanding involves Emirates unit Emirates
Group Security and Etihad parent Etihad Aviation Group working "together
on operational areas both within and outside the UAE," according to an
Emirates statement.
The agreement was signed by Emirates President Tim Clark and Etihad's
new Group Chief Executive Tony Douglas.
Clark told Reuters on Oct. 11 that Emirates was open to working with
Etihad, including on procurement.
"I think there is value to be had working more closely with them," Clark
said in October.
[to top of second column] |

Etihad Airways headquarters is seen in Abu Dhabi March 3, 2014.
REUTERS/ Stringer

Emirates and Etihad face common challenges; a lobbying campaign in the United
States to investigate accusations that they are unfairly state subsidized, which
they both deny, as well as overcapacity, security concerns, and a drop in
regional business travel.
Under Monday's agreement, Emirates Group Security will provide security and
training programs to Etihad, and help develop their security escort capability.
Emirates is the largest Middle East airline, and the younger Etihad had
unsuccessfully spent billions trying to catch up by buying stakes in more than
half a dozen operators around the world. Its most high-profile investments, Air
Berlin and Italy's Alitalia, filed for administration last year and contributed
to Etihad falling into the red in 2016 for the first time since 2010.
Emirates started developing closer ties with fellow Dubai state-owned carrier
flydubai last year.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Louise
Heavens)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |