Deals
Lufthansa, Etihad Deepen Ties With Catering, Maintenance Pacts
- Ex-rivals say inflight-food accord may lead to joint venture
- German group interested in cooperation with Italy’s Alitalia
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Long-time adversaries Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Etihad Airways PJSC announced deals covering catering and aircraft maintenance and said the agreements could act as a springboard to a broader alliance.
While the accords amount to contract wins for Lufthansa worth more than 200 million euros ($216 million), the carriers said they’re targeting further tie-ups in cargo, procurement, information technology and new code-share routes, and could form a full joint venture, the closest relationship available to airlines from different regions. The German carrier said its also open to cooperation with Alitalia SpA, in which Etihad has a 49 percent stake.