Tim Clark, 70, long-time Emirates boss and titan of the modern aviation industry, is nearing the end of his 35-year service defined by bold gestures that transformed the airline from a two-plane operation into a global powerhouse.
The executive, who is retiring in June,
redefined the global aviation map as he masterminded the ascent of Emirates into the world's biggest long-haul airline, whose every move reverberates through the industry.
Mr Clark will remain with the company in an advisory role.
“He blazed the way for the ‘super-connector’ business model and found a willing partner in Dubai,” said George Ferguson, senior aerospace analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
“He had a great run.”
During his 16 years as president, the aviation veteran made Emirates the dominant airline on intercontinental routes connecting East and West with a fleet of Airbus A380 double-decker and Boeing 777 planes ferrying global travellers via its base in Dubai.
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Emirates' A380 liveries - in pictures
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Emirates is ramping up operations via its A380 jets to meet travel demands. Photo: AP -
The A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. Photo: Getty Images -
Emirates is the world's biggest A380 customer and offers shower spas and an upper-deck lounge for premium passengers. Photo: Emirates -
Emirates A380 economy class. Photo: Emirates -
Inside Emirates new A380 Premium Economy cabin. Courtesy Emirates -
The Emirates super jumbo is known for its luxury. Photo: Emirates -
The grand staircase on an Emirates airline Airbus A380. Photo: AP -
A custom A380 livery dedicated to Dubai’s Museum of the Future. Photo: Emirates -
The United for Wildlife Emirates A380 before its first flight to London. Photo: Emirates -
The Emirates Year of Zayed A380 makes a scenic landing in Hong Kong. Photo: Emirates -
The Emirates FA Cup branded A380. Photo: Emirates
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The airline's growth helped transform the emirate into a mega-hub for international travel as part of the UAE's broader plans to diversify away from oil. Dubai International Airport has become the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger numbers, taking the title from London Heathrow.
At the Dubai Airshow last month, Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed described Mr Clark as a "genius" at his job.
The executive, who joined the company in 1985, played a pivotal role in transitioning the airline from an operator of two jets leased from Pakistan International Airlines to a global aviation giant with a fleet of 270 aircraft flying to 159 destinations.
The airline behemoth has grown to wield significant influence over the development of aircraft programmes at both leading plane makers Boeing and Airbus. Mr Clark helped define the A380 and 777 jet family by dictating specifications according to those required by Emirates for its long-haul operations.
Emirates bet on its "super-connector" model to link city pairs worldwide, placing record-setting multibillion dollar orders for wide-body planes as it siphoned traffic away from well-established airlines.
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Emirates' humble beginnings - in pictures
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The first flight. Courtesy Emirates -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid gave Emirates two Boeing 727-200s in 1985. Courtesy Emirates -
The first passengers board the inaugural Emirates flight in 1985. Courtesy Emirates -
A ticket stub from the airline's first flight. Courtesy Emirates -
The red carpet was rolled out for the inaugural flight in 1985. Courtesy Emirates -
The first flight departs the mainland and heads for India. Courtesy Emirates -
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, second from the left, became chairman of Emirates when the airline was launched. He was also appointed President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation in the same year. He is currently chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group. To the right is Maurice Flanagan. He moved to Dubai in 1978 to run dnata and later became managing director of Emirates airline and then of the Emirates Group. he stepped down as executive vice-chairman in 2013 and passed away earlier this year. Courtesy Emirates -
The first flight arrives in Karachi. Courtesy Emirates -
The crew on board an Emirates flight are all smiles. Emirates took delivery of its first bought aircraft, an Airbus 310 in 1987. The Airbus A310-300 was designed to Emirates specifications. Courtesy Emirates -
Emirates cabin crew in the 1980s. The 1990 Emirates ordered three more Airbus A310-300s at the Asean Aerospace exhibition in Singapore. Then, in 1991, it began services to the busiest international hub in the world – London Heathrow before ordering seven Boeing 777s, with an option for seven more. Courtesy Emirates -
Emirates' first video system pictured in 1992. Courtesy Emirates -
Passengers enjoy the new video system. Courtesy Emirates -
First class passengers were able te recline and enjoy the visual entertainment from 1992. Courtesy Emirates -
The video system included the soon-to-become classic film Home Alone. Courtesy Emirates -
A passenger adjusts the video system. In 1996, Emirates took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200 and became the first airline to show live footage of take-off and landing on its in-flight entertainment system. Courtesy Emirates -
An Emirates A380 soars during the Dubai Air Show in 2013. That year Concourse A, the world’s first purpose built A380 concourse, opened its doors at Dubai International Airport. The giant building with 20 A380 gates was over 800 metres long. Emirates rewrote aviation history with an order for 200 aircraft – 150 Boeing 777Xs and 50 A380s, costing $99 billion. AFP -
In 2000, Emirates was the first airline to sign up for the Airbus A380, pictured, when it ordered seven, with an option on five more, at the Farnborough Air Show. It also bought another six Boeing 777-300s. In 2001, it signed a £24 million deal to sponsor English Premiership football club Chelsea for four years, and announced a $15 billion order for 15 A380s, eight A340-600s, three A330s and 25 Boeing 777s. In 2003, it broke records at the Paris Air Show with an order for 71 aircraft at a cost of $19 billion. In the same year it launched ice, making it the first airline to offer more than 500 channels of in-flight entertainment on demand in all classes, the widest choice in the skies. In 2007, Captain Abbas Shaban, a UAE national, was the first pilot qualified to fly the A380, which the airline took delivery of in 2008. AFP -
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid descends the stairs of an A380 cargo plane on arrival at Dubai World Central, Al Maktoum International Airport which opened on June 27, 2010 with the aim of becoming the world's busiest. Emirates SkyCargo moved its freighter operations to DWC in 2014. AP Photo -
Dubai International Airport is now the busiest in the world for international passenger traffic. It projects annual passenger traffic of 79 million for 2015. Pawan Singh / The National -
Emirates, now with a route network of 140 cities, and 267 aircraft on order worth $128 billion, rolled out its new television advert featuring Friends star Jennifer Aniston earlier this month. Courtesy Emirates -
Hollywood actress, director and producer Jennifer Aniston makes a return to the Emirates A380, and makes a new friend, in a new global digital and TV advertising campaign in 2016. Courtesy Emirates -
Emirates and flydubai today unveiled an extensive partnership which will see the two Dubai-based airlines join forces to offer customers unmatched travel options in 2017. Courtesy Emirates -
Emirates launches the world’s first fully-enclosed First Class private suites, with unmatched luxury and privacy, in 2017. Courtesy Emirates -
Emirates buys 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft worth USD 8.8 billion at list prices at the Dubai Airshow. This adds to its USD 16 billion Airbus A350 order, taking its total aircraft order at the Dubai Airshow to USD 24.8 billion. Courtesy Emirates -
Over 540 volunteer passengers from 145 nationalities take off on Emirates flight EK2019, breaking the Guinness World Record for the most nationalities on an aircraft. The historic A380 flight marks UAE National Day and the UAE Year of Tolerance, and showcases the diversity and unity of the citizen and residents of the UAE. Courtesy Emirates -
Emirates Airline President Tim Clark will retire in 2020. Reuters
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The Briton was appointed Emirates president in 2003, after which he navigated the airline through some turbulent times and industry changes during his tenure.
He guided the company through the 2008 global financial crisis, the 2014 oil price crash that clipped travel demand and dented its revenue, as well as various waves of geopolitical tensions across the Middle East and beyond.
He had to confront claims by US airlines that Emirates received government subsidies, therby preventing a level playing field for its competitors.
During the early days of US President Donald Trump’s administration, the executive dealt with a US ban on laptops aboard Middle East airlines.
He has also fended off competition from the "gathering storm" of emerging low-cost, long-haul airlines. To help challenge the threat, Emirates forged closer ties with sister budget airline Flydubai, which is also owned by the Dubai government.
In a no-nonsense approach, Mr Clark berated jet manufacturers and engine makers for faults that have delayed new plane deliveries, warning Emirates would no longer accept aircraft that did not meet set specifications.
The airline has been profitable during the past three decades, creating a top dividend-yielding entity for its government shareholder and realising Dubai’s plans to develop its tourism sector as a non-oil revenue generator.
Mr Clark is considered the godfather of the modern airline industry whose opinions on aviation and macroeconomic topics are well respected. He has expressed views on global issues from Britain's planned exit from the European Union and the US-China tariff wars to environmental issues and economic cycles.
Mr Clark is “the pre-eminent leader of the contemporary airline world”, said independent aviation consultant John Strickland. “A visionary, the brains behind Emirates and a massive influence on Airbus’ launch of A380 and Boeing 777-300ER.”
The executive is stepping down after conducting what he called a "root and branch" review of the airline's fleet and network, following an end to its flagship A380 double-decker in February.
He has since overhauled the Emirates fleet to embrace smaller wide-body jets amid a backdrop of slowing travel demand and sluggish economic growth. This culminated in a series of restructured deals at the Dubai Airshow last month that included the midsized Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 Neo jets, charting a new growth strategy for the company.
"By the early 2020s, Emirates will restart its expansion in no uncertain terms and we can do this with these aircraft, including 777X programme when it comes in," Mr Clark said.
His anticipated retirement comes at a time of a strategic review as the aviation industry faces global headwinds from trade conflicts to geopolitical tensions.
“He leaves at a time when the business is increasingly more difficult,” Mr Ferguson said. “Strong competition for connecting traffic and smaller, more fuel efficient long-haul aircraft that can serve more markets has depressed fares.”
Emirates has not named a successor to the veteran.
Before joining Emirates, Mr Clark was a route planner at Gulf Air and worked at Caledonian Airways. The airline executive holds a degree in Economics from London University in the UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
