Gulf News

A vocal champion of innovation

DUBAI HAILS SIR MAURICE’S ROLES IN BOTH BUILDING EMIRATES AIRLINE AND IN DEVELOPING THE GLOBAL AVIATION INDUSTRY

- By Francis Matthew Editor at Large

Sir Maurice Flanagan, the founding CEO of Emirates airline and its retired Executive Vice-Chairman, died yesterday in London aged 86. He had been in hospital for his final few weeks as he battled cancer surrounded by his family and close friends.

On hearing the news, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, said: “Emirates Group and Dubai has lost a great friend today. Maurice was a man of great character and a legend in the aviation industry. He was generous with his time, forthright in his views, and a person who gave 110 per cent to everything he did.

“It was a great personal pleasure and privilege to have worked with him. On behalf of all Emirates Group staff, I express our condolence­s to his wife Audrey, his son Julian, and his daughters Siobhan and Claire. His contributi­ons to Dnata, Emirates and Dubai will always be remembered.”

Sir Maurice’s early career was with British Overseas Airways Corporatio­n (BOAC) and British Airways (BA) with whom he enjoyed several postings around the world including Mumbai, Peru and Iran.

He came to Dubai in 1978 to manage Dnata, but in 1985 he was called to a meeting with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then Minster of Defence and now Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who said that he wanted to start an airline.

“I was asked how much money I would need, and being realistic I said $10 million (Dh36.73 million) although others were talking of $40 million or $50 million. Ten seemed like a nice safe Maktoum sort of number!” Sir Maurice told his retirement party in 2013.

“We launched with the support of His Highness, but he added that there was to be no protection­ism, that Dubai would continue its Open Skies Policy, and there would be no subsidies,” he said. Emirates airline is now on track to becoming the largest airline in the world.

At his retirement, Sir Maurice received a touching tribute from Shaikh Ahmad who said, “I salute you as a friend and colleague. On behalf of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we thank you for the huge contributi­on you have made.”

Warm tribute

Shaikh Ahmad told the assembled audience of friends and senior Emirates staff that he had shared an office with Sir Maurice for nine months when they started Emirates airline in 1985, and added in a warm and personal tribute that “I learnt a lot from Sir Maurice. Indeed, when you see some good in me, you see what Maurice taught me.”

Last night Emirates airline hailed Sir Maurice’s role in both building Emirates airline and in developing the global aviation industry.

“He helped steer the Group’s business divisions through many challengin­g periods to continuall­y deliver growth and profits. A thought leader in the aviation and travel industry, Sir Maurice was a vocal champion for the benefits of competitio­n and innovation.

He was actively involved in many industry forums, including as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)”.

Sir Maurice’s achievemen­ts won him the honour of a knighthood in Queen Elizabeth’s 2010 birthday honours, who bestowed the accolade on him personally in a special ceremony when she visited the UAE.

Other industry awards include Flight Internatio­nal magazine’s Personalit­y of the Year, membership of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame, Aviation Legend award by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, and many others.

In addition to his work with Emirates airline, Sir Maurice made a great contributi­on to Dubai life. His personal enjoyment of rugby made a great difference to Emirates’ sponsorshi­p of the Rugby Sevens in their early days.

He also played an important personal role in the Emirates Festival of Literature, attending many session and making valuable contributi­ons, as well as hosting memorable end of festival parties at his home. He published a volume of his poetry that he would have presented at the 2015 festival had illness not intervened.

He is survived by his wife Audrey and his three children, Julian, Siobhan and Claire, and five grandchild­ren.

 ?? Gulf News Archives ?? Legend passes away Sir Maurice Flanagan, founding CEO of Emirates, died in London yesterday after battling cancer.
Gulf News Archives Legend passes away Sir Maurice Flanagan, founding CEO of Emirates, died in London yesterday after battling cancer.
 ?? Gulf News Archives ?? Emirates group tribute Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Flanagan in 2007. Ahmad said Emirates Group and Dubai had lost a great friend.
Gulf News Archives Emirates group tribute Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Flanagan in 2007. Ahmad said Emirates Group and Dubai had lost a great friend.
 ?? Gulf News Archives ?? Knighthood Sir Maurice’s achievemen­ts won him the honour of a knighthood during Queen Elizabeth’s 2010 birthday honours.
Gulf News Archives Knighthood Sir Maurice’s achievemen­ts won him the honour of a knighthood during Queen Elizabeth’s 2010 birthday honours.
 ?? Gulf News Archives ?? In good company Sir Richard Branson (left) with Sir Maurice Flanagan and his wife Audrey in 2007.
Gulf News Archives In good company Sir Richard Branson (left) with Sir Maurice Flanagan and his wife Audrey in 2007.

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