Dnata to manage Etihad Airways contact centres

Dnata, the Dubai-based air services provider owned by Emirates Group, is to manage Etihad Airways’ contact centres, in what appears to be the latest step towards closer cooperation between the two rivals. The contact centres were formerly managed by Etihad itself, and this is the first time it has appointed a third-party to manage those operations. The companies said they have agreed not to disclose contract details. The move is the latest by the two aviation groups to move closer after they signed a deal in January last year to cooperate in aviation security. At the time, Emirates Group Security and Etihad Aviation Group said the deal involves sharing of information and intelligence as well as work on operational areas within and outside the UAE. <br/>