Mohammed A Al Khaja, Vice Chairman of The Emirates Airline Foundation receiving recognition from CFI.co (from left: Marten Mark and Tor Svensson)[/caption]
Some companies just keep on flying high, soaring way above their peers and setting the pace for an entire industry. One such company is Emirates – flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates and the airline of choice for the discerning passenger. For a third year running, and with no apologies from the CFI.co Judging Panel, Emirates has successfully laid claim to a most enviable set of twin awards it may now consider its own: Outstanding Contribution to Airline SCR and Corporate Leadership UAE.
For the CFI.co judges, Emirates epitomises the corporate renaissance engulfing the Arabian Peninsula in general and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in particular. In a way both exciting and surprising, business is being reinvented here with highly innovative approaches to corporate management, human resources, and day-to-day operations.
Emirates has displayed an uncanny ability to deliver sustained growth in one of the toughest industries of all: airlines operate on the thinnest of margins and turning a profit flying passengers and cargo around is no mean feat. Doing just that for 26 consecutive years is almost unheard of. Yet in May 2014, Emirates announced a solid $1.1bn profit (up 32% over 2013) on a revenue of almost $24bn (up 13% over 2013). The company also added more than 8,000 workers to its payroll and now employs over 75,000 people, representing 160 nationalities.
The judges remain deeply impressed with Emirates’ continued investment in technology – ranging from the latest fuel-efficient planes to flexible route optimisation and tailored arrivals which adjust speed and flight profiles to fit landing slots. This dedication to technological perfection enables Emirates to outmanoeuvre its competitors, and soar above the fray, with both style and flair.