Etihad Airways confirmed on Tuesday that it had acquired a 2.987 per cent stake in Aer Lingus. The airline said the purchase reflected its desire to forge a commercial partnership with the Irish national carrier. Etihad Airways believes a possible partnership could produce significant commercial benefits for both airlines. Etihad Airways operates 10 flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin and has carried more than 750,000 passengers between the two capitals since it began flying the route in July, 2007. The airline has a premium lounge at Dublin Airport, an engineering maintenance facility and has conducted recruitment drives across the country. It also recently renewed its sponsorship of the Gaelic Athletic Association, signing a five-year deal. Etihad Airways has strategic codeshare partnerships with 34 airlines around the world. Earlier Story: Abu Dhabi-based Etihad airline has acquired a 2.987 per cent stake in Aer Lingus over the past couple of months, according to an Irish daily. Under stock market rules, Etihad is not required to disclose its shareholding until it has passed the 3 per cent threshold. “Aer Lingus last night confirmed it was in discussions with Etihad in relation to reciprocal code-sharing arrangements. The two airlines are also investigating the possibility of joint procurement opportunities,” Irishtimes.com, the online edition of Irish Times said in a news report. Nevertheless, the paper quoted Aer Lingus as saying that Etihad had given the Irish airline an undertaking that it does not intend to increase its shareholding pending the outcome of the discussions. “There is no certainty as to the outcome of these discussions,” the paper quoted Aer Lingus as saying.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu International Group.

Etihad Airways will be the preferred supplier of air cargo services for Lulu’s retail operations into and out of the UAE.

Under the agreement, Etihad Airways will offer the Lulu International Group and its forwarding agents a range of preferential and priority air cargo services. This includes transporting mostly fresh produce from countries such as Egypt, India, the Philippines, Thailand and the United Kingdom to and through the UAE.

Best known for the Lulu chain of supermarkets, department stores, hypermarkets and shopping malls, the Lulu International Group operates businesses all over UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, China, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Cost, Ghana and Benin.



Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: “We are delighted to have signed this MoU with the Lulu International Group and look forward to working together as this relationship develops.

“This deal is central to Etihad Airways’ role of facilitating trade into and out of the UAE, and will further support the commercial development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Chief Executive Officer of Lulu International Group, Saifee T Rupawala, said: “We are very excited about this new agreement with Etihad Airways which will help us immensely in effectively managing our worldwide supply chain and logistics. This in turn will help us cater to the diverse needs of our large multi-ethnic consumer base with prompt service and competitive prices.”