Tim Clark, the president of Emirates Airline, is refocusing on the war of words between some in the US aviation industry, including American, United and Delta airlines, and Arabian Gulf carriers over open Skies agreements.
It has been an increasingly bitter dispute, with the Americans claiming that Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have received $44 billion in subsidies from their governments, and seeking US government action against them.
In a lengthy and candid interview with The National, Mr Clark spoke forcefully about the Open Skies row, where it leaves Emirates’ growth plans, and what he thinks of other aviation executives.
There is still plenty to go round in world aviation markets for the other two Arabian Gulf carriers and for other non-Gulf airlines. The pie is doubling in size, with third and fourth level hubs now coming into their own. There are still 100 cities that are not served by Emirates.
“I see the Indian Ocean as one of the big centres of growth in world aviation today. The great sweep of growing economies taking in East Africa, the Middle East, India and South East Asia. Dubai is geocentrically placed for this growing market.
“The market is changing all the time. We lost big chunks of the Middle East – Syria, Libya – because of their problems. We lost big chunks of Africa for a while because of Ebola. There are always events you couldn’t possible foresee, like the ash cloud in 2010. But the trend is for growth in global aviation.”