Etihad Airways Selects SAP as a Strategic Technology Partner for Business Transformation

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Oct 23, 2014, 08:00 ET

ABU DHABI, UAE and WALLDORF, Germany, Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), today announced the selection of SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) as a strategic technology partner to deploy a range of key software solutions to deliver the latest best-in-class technology to the Etihad Aviation Group.

The airline plans to deploy the enterprise resource planning application SAP® ERP together with a range of cloud-based products across its vital business functions, including human resources, finance, procurement and supply management and business intelligence.

At a signing ceremony in New York, President and Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, James Hogan, and Bill McDermott, CEO and member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, said that the partnership was key to helping Etihad Airways sustain and support its growth, while further modernising and scaling up the airline's business functions.

Mr Hogan said Etihad Airways had experienced strong and sustained growth in its 11 year history. "This strategic partnership with SAP means we can implement the best business technology to grow with confidence and continue to provide outstanding service to our customers. This is about preparing our business for tomorrow," said Mr Hogan.

"SAP is proud to support a world-class operation like Etihad Airways," said Mr McDermott. "Few industries deal with as much sophistication and complexity as the airline industry. By selecting SAP, Etihad Airways will be able to simplify its core business processes and increase efficiency, flexibility and effectiveness across the organisation with a focus on the customer. James Hogan and the Etihad Airways management team have a bold vision for aviation and innovation. This partnership with SAP demonstrates a commitment to innovation in technology. SAP is honored to be recognized as a strategic technology partner."

Etihad Airways will deploy cloud solutions for some of its key business solutions, including talent management solutions from SuccessFactors, an SAP company, procurement and business-to-business collaboration from Ariba, an SAP company, and the SAP HANA® platform for real-time business databases and applications.

"As part of this commitment to technology innovation Etihad Airways is establishing technology Centres of Excellence in the UAE, Europe and India, bringing world-class solutions and services to the Etihad Aviation Group," said Mr Hogan.

"Today's announcement shows SAP's commitment to Etihad Airways and the UAE in our shared goal of connecting east and west via Abu Dhabi's rapidly growing aviation hub," said Mr McDermott.

"We continue to invest in Abu Dhabi's future and will leverage our training and development institute by building Emirati talent and skills to further support Abu Dhabi and its strategic growth."

Based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, Etihad Airways counts more than 20,000 employees and serves 111 existing or announced destinations in 63 countries. Last year the airline posted record numbers in passengers of 11.5 million; cargo volumes of 486,752 tonnes; and total revenues of US$ 6.1 billion.

For more information, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews.

About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried 11.5 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base Etihad Airways flies to 111 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 105 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is in the process of formalising equity investments in Alitalia and Swiss-based Etihad Regional*. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.
*Operated by Darwin Airline

About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 263,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

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For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:
Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24
United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)

For more information, press only:

SAP
Husain Al Tamimi, SAP, +971 (0) 56 681 1641 / [email protected]
Claire McPeak, SAP, +971 (0) 4 330 1777 / [email protected]
Steve Baron, Wallis Marketing Consultants, +971 (0) 4 390 1950, [email protected]
SAP News Center press room; [email protected]

Etihad Airways:
Katie Connell, Etihad Airways Corporate Communications, + 1 917 515 1136, [email protected]

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SOURCE SAP SE