Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has told its pilots they can join Dubai-based Emirates on a temporary basis for two years. Pilots who join Emirates would be placed on a leave of absence, retain seniority at Etihad, and receive their salary and full benefits from the Dubai airline. Etihad, which last week reported a USD1.5bn annual loss, has been overhauling its business since 2016, replacing its top executive, dropping unprofitable routes and shrinking its fleet. Etihad employs 2,200 pilots, according to the airline spokesman. Reuters reported in January that Etihad had offered up to 18 months unpaid leave to pilots. Emirates and Etihad have been exploring closer ties and signed a security pact in January, the first agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based airlines. Emirates has since said that a closer relationship was not about a merger.