Emirates and Etihad sign security partnership

08 January 2018
UAE’s biggest aviation groups agree to share information and intelligence on critical aspects of aviation security

Emirates Group Security, the security arm of the Dubai-based aviation group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group to cooperate on aviation security.

The MoU involves the sharing of information and intelligence between Emirates and Etihad on critical aspects of aviation security, according to a combined statement released on 8 January.

It is understood the two entities will also work together on operational areas both within and outside the UAE.

Hamad Abdulla al-Shamsi, Etihad Aviation Group vice-chairman, said the partnership is “as important symbolically as it is strategically.

“Security is our utmost priority and given the current sensitive climate we operate in, it should never be underestimated,” Al-Shamsi said. “By working closely together, and pooling our expertise and resources, Etihad Aviation Group and Emirates Group Security will … provide the safest travelling environment for our customers.”

Under the MoU, Emirates Group Security will extend its security training and education programmes to Etihad Airways and will support the development of Etihad’s own security capability.

Longer term, Emirates Group Security will also share the content and structure of its security development curriculum and work with Etihad Aviation Group in setting up a structured in-house security education programme with possible university level accreditation.

Emirates Group Security employs more than 400 staff directly and over 2,000 security staff through its service partner Transguard Group (TG). It provides special aviation security services beyond Emirates to other airlines that operate in and out of Dubai International airport.

Etihad Airways reported losses of close to $1.9bn in 2016. It appointed Tony Douglas as CEO in October last year, following the departure of long-serving group CEO James Hogan.

There has been  talks of a merger between the two airlines in recent years, which senior executives at both companies have firmly denied.

 

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