The aviation industry needs to prepare for the future to address the expected higher levels of travel demand, climate change challenges and operational safety, Emirates airline president Tim Clark has said.
Industry investment in air navigation systems, new technology, skilled aviation workers and infrastructure are inadequate, he said in a keynote speech on Tuesday at the International Air Transport Association's Safety Conference in Dubai.
"These days a few things are keeping me awake and one of them is future readiness," Mr Clark said.
"Are we as an industry truly ready to tackle the next 20 to 30 years? I fear that what I’ve been seeing so far are signs of an industry failure to provide the right infrastructure for the future. And more worrying, a dearth of leadership."
"How can we operate safely if we are not investing in systems, in technologies, in people and in bricks-and-mortar infrastructure?"
The aviation veteran lambasted plane-makers over repeated delays of aircraft deliveries as the airline steps up its operations to meet a surge of travel demand after bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
"How can we be assured of safety when the biggest manufacturers in commercial aviation are failing to deliver aircraft programmes to the standards and timelines requested to replace ageing fleets? Where is the accountability and oversight from their senior managers?" Mr Clark said.
Emirates has previously criticised US aircraft manufacturer Boeing for years-long delays to its 777X programme, which the airline warned would hamper its complex fleet plans.
Supply chain issues have also left suppliers and manufacturers struggling to source everything from raw materials to parts to keep the production process moving.
Highlighting the industry's shortcomings in dealing with the massive resurgence of travel demand this summer, the Emirates boss also highlighted some airports' failure to foresee the recovery after the pandemic and the reopening of global business and tourism.
"Just look at the shambolic situations we found ourselves in at many airports this summer," Mr Clark said. "We can hardly cope with current demand, not to mention future growth. And how many countries are investing to improve and expand airport infrastructure, and modernise air navigation systems?"
European hubs such as London's Heathrow and Amsterdam's Schiphol had to impose passenger caps amid long queues, delays and baggage problems due to a staff shortage.
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Emirates A380 - in pictures
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Earlier this year, major international airlines were caught off guard by safety concerns triggered by a major C-band fifth-generation (5G) wireless rollout in the US, sending them scrambling to alter flight plans or cancel them altogether.
"How did we end up in shambles at the 11th hour ... with the roll-out of 5G telecoms in the United States?" Mr Clark said.
"What kind of systems do we have that, in this day and age, pilots with fake licences are found operating aircraft with hundreds of human lives on board? Has there been sufficient investment in support programmes to build a pool of skilled aviation workers?"
Government agencies, regulators, airlines, airports, ground handlers, air navigation services, manufacturers and supply chain players must all play their part to address these industry issues, Mr Clark said.
Other challenges to operational safety include providing more mental health support to aviation workers, addressing the shortage in skilled staff, flying sustainably, addressing cyber-security threats and designing a safety framework for eVTOLs (Electric vertical take off and landing vehicles), speakers at the Iata Safety Conference said.
With the kind of growth and innovation that the industry continues to register in areas such as advanced air mobility and the number of retirements hastened by the pandemic, the industry needs to develop highly skilled talent, Billy Nolen, acting administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration, told the conference.
"This industry needs new people, including those with new skills and new abilities," he said.
"Government and industry must continue to work together and find more creative ways to build a future workforce and help them develop the advanced skill sets they all need to match [these] advancements."
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
The years Ramadan fell in May
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
