'Get your act together,' Emirates chairman says on Boeing crisis

When you look at the growth profile of Dubai, do you think that passenger demand in the future globally and within the region is going to support infrastructure of that size? Yes, I I I think we we can experience that Dubai want to see a big airline, they want to see, I mean if you see a look also to fly Dubai and the growth in flight Dubai supporting the numbers that we see are coming to Dubai or staying here. So you will see us always pushing that by the airline. They are always going in One Direction. I always like talking with you because it’s an opportunity to ask about the airline, but it’s also an opportunity to ask about Dubai. How do you see the city performing and how’s the country doing right now from a growth perspective? I think we see the city performing very well. If you take any sector of of the business, if it is real estate, it’s the road and what you see the kind of traffic we see on on the road, that’s all positive. I mean we see the hotel, the announcement of the occupancy on the hotel, they are appending for the last few months more than 83% that just recently been announced. So all of that is radioactive. You think this type of momentum can continue or is Dubai basically at capacity right now? I think we proved to the world that Dubai always can do it and it will be up to its world. Let’s talk about another major issue as well. It’s the recent flooding in Dubai. I think the floods really exposed some vulnerabilities in Dubai’s infrastructure. Talk me through how the airline responded and some of the tail issues that you’re now dealing with as a result. Yeah, I think what it does wouldn’t come to the the weather issue to see it at the base. It’s over 200mm of rain for like an over 24 hour. I think I must really give a credit to everybody within the stakeholder within the city who did really work day and night to make sure to clear. I I won’t say it’s must, it’s a mess. But you know it’s something that we always love when it comes to rain, but also we think about the status of that day and how we manage it and to clear it in just like nearly within 4K eight hour. I think when it comes to the airline, everybody really put a lot of effort to make sure that for example, we put really more than 26,000 people into hotel. We have to deal with a lot of food to be given at at the airport as a disturbance. You know when it come. It happened. I think as an airline we are used to it, but it happened usually in places around the globe and we deal with it on 1234 stations. But you would have at the hub and with all those aircraft coming here or leaving here, it’s different. But I think if it happens again, we are getting fired. So you say you’ll be more prepared if it is to happen again. How do you, how do you build resilience though to make sure that we don’t see those scenes of chaos and angry, angry customers and and passengers again, you know I I I think when when we look at what’s happening within the Dubai government also really putting a lot of emphasis on what we should be doing within the city. I think you you will see some of the program, the time to put areas that we see it’s happening every year. You won’t see it again. You know when we talk about water, storm system, wooden area, it’s something that you will see it’s it’s happening. So I’m sure that if it happens then you will see us is really good for us. I have to ask you about what’s happening in Boeing as well. You’ve got more than 200 aircraft on order from Boeing. Are you concerned about how they’re responding to this crisis? Yeah, we are not happy really with what’s going on. We always really wanted to see this aircraft entering the fleet when it being promised. If there is a delay, it’s not only us to us but also I hope with the the new appointment at at Boeing, I’ve seen the and the people also or the the management, they promised that they they will, they will try to move things. You know, I think the way they announced the certification of this aircraft and we will know for sure when it is happening and I hope that they will, that they’re talking about in 26 or years, 26 Dave Calhoun out the door. Do you have confidence in what Boeing has done in order to replace the manager? You know, I think they have to put a lot of pressure, you know, to make sure that they deliver to their customer whatever they promised. So what does that mean for your own order book? He said there’s going to be some delays. Are you considering perhaps cancelling those orders and maybe moving over to Airbus? No and not OK. And I won’t be able to to say exactly what we are planning, but I think you see it that we are really refurbishing a big number of aircraft within the existing fleet. So at least you know the feel of it and to make sure that they will continue with the airline and there will be no seat shortage within Dubai capacity And is that a concern for you there, there is a potential seat shortage here because you can’t get those planes on time. Yeah. But still I think with the 380 extending part of the existing fleet by more year, I think that would help. So what’s your message to Boeing as it continues to deal with this situation? I always say, you know, get your act together and just do it and I think they can do it. Very interesting. Just finally, Sir, a lot of new competition in the region and around the world. I just spoke with the new CEO of Qatar Airways and he has really laid down the gauntlet, particularly when it comes to premium cabins here. What’s your message to him when it comes to competition in this part of the world? Well, I mean to when it come to to US and Emirate, I mean to me, we love competition when being in competition from day one. I think when you look at what Emirates started in a very competitive market with the Dubai with its open sky policy, we are always welcoming airline. I mean my responsibility besides the airline is the airborne. I don’t want to see as many new airlines coming to here so that that’s competition. But I say there is enough really business if you do your job right, you will be able to attract more and more business to come to your base. And this is what we are doing at Emirates, you know by opening in Nuru or really developing the existing route that we see out of Dubai or coming to Dubai. And and I think when we see in a new airline in that region, I think that’s that should be very positive because they will help us also marketing the Dubai destination.