State-owned airlines Emirates President Tim Clarke will step down from his position in June 2020, the local media reported. A spokesperson told APP, “We can confirm Sir Tim’s retirement… in June 2020.”
Clarke joined Emirates in 1985. At that time, Emirates had just started operations with two leased planes from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Emirates is the Middle East’s biggest airline carrier.
The National noted that Clarke had helped Emirates to grow exponentially over the years. His retirement was first announced by Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum in an internal company memo.
Currently, Emirates has 271 large aircrafts, including 113 Airbus A380 superjumbos and 158 Boeing 777 planes at its disposal.
In November, the airline had signed a $16 billion firm order for 50 Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft. However, the deal replaced a larger commitment signed earlier this year. Previously, the airline said that it would purchase smaller A330 and A350 models instead in a deal worth $21.4 billion.
In recent decades, Emirates has heavily expanded its base in the US. It operates daily flights to North American cities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In fact, the British aviation sector has gained prominence in the UAE.
Earlier this month, Emirates agreed to purchase the remaining shares of Alpha LSG in an effort to expand its international portfolio. Established in 2012, Alpha LSG is the largest inflight catering and logistics company in the UK.
The acquisition will also help Alpha LSG to expand in terms of operations on the global front.