Legendary Emirates vice chairman Sir Maurice Flanagan helped found the airline 28 years ago. He was a key architect in the phenomenal growth of Emirates Airline and Group, having overseen dnata’s operations and subsequently every stage in the airline’s remarkable rise from regional carrier with two aircraft to global giant with a fleet of more than 170 aircraft.
Flanagan first arrived in Dubai in 1978 when he was appointed director and general manager of dnata. Six years later, he led the ten-man team that hatched the plan to launch an airline in five months on a budget of just $10m. He was the managing director for the inaugural Emirates flight in 1985 and his pivotal role in the company’s development was recognised in 1990 when he was appointed group managing director of Emirates Group. Flanagan retired in April last year.
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