Emirates has appointed four UAE nationals to senior positions in the company.

One will lead non-aircraft purchasing and supply activities for the Emirates Group, and the other three have been given responsibility for newly created regional departments in commercial operations.

Commenting on the appointments, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates, said: "Purchasing plays a decisive role in the Group's financial performance, while the airline's ongoing and future development must be achieved without compromising the high standards of planning and execution that are Emirates' trademark.

Fast-forward

"Emirates has been in fast-forward since its inception. We are not slowing down, and these new appointments reflect our resolve to take the necessary organisational steps to manage our growth efficiently and successfully." Saeed Mohammad has been appointed senior vice-president for Procurement and Logistics (Non-Aircraft). He brings to his new position three years of hands-on experience in procurement, acquired since he joined Emirates from Dubal in 2001. He will report to Dermot Mannion, president Group Support Services.

Hamad Obaidalla has been appointed senior vice-president for Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran. The new region comprises 13 destinations. It is Emirates' home region and one in which frequency and capacity are constantly growing.

Nabeel Sultan is the new senior vice-president for Commercial Operations, West Asia and the Indian Ocean. The region comprises the Indian subcontinent with 11 destinations plus a cargo-only destination, and the top tourist spots of Maldives and Mauritius. New services to the Seychelles start in January.

Nasser Bin Kherbash is the new senior vice-president for Commercial Operations, Africa. Emirates serves 10 destinations in the region, with offline offices in a further four countries and a huge potential for future expansion.

The airline operates services to 77 destinations in 54 countries, numbers that will grow to 81 and 56, respectively, by the end of next year with the addition of four new destinations already announced Seychelles, Seoul, Hamburg and Geneva.

Network

To better manage the rapid expansion of the Emirates network, Commercial Operations has added three new regions to the three already in existence. UAE nationals have been promoted to senior vice-presidents and put in charge of the new regions.

All share a deep knowledge of their markets and over a decade of experience of commercial operations in various parts of the Emirates network. The three joined the airline as management trainees.

The new regions are being added to Europe; North America; and East Asia and Australasia, each already managed by a senior vice-president. All will report to Gaith Al Gaith, executive vice president for Commercial Operations Worldwide.

Meanwhile, Emirates-CAE Flight Training is expanding its aviation training facility with the addition of three full-flight simulators.

Shaikh Ahmad and Jeff Roberts, group president Civil Simulation and Training, CAE, signed the contract in Dubai on the eve of the opening of Dubai Helishow 2004.

The signing was also attended by Canadian Ambassador David Hutton, the Canadian Consul General in Dubai Graham Rush, and Maurice Flanagan, Emirates vice-chairman and group president.

"I am very pleased that within one full year of operation, Emirates-CAE Flight Training has become the training provider of choice to airlines both within the Middle East and beyond," Shaikh Ahmad said. "With the additional simulators, we can offer a wider range of services to new and existing customers who will be assured of a comfortable stay in the safe and modern city of Dubai."

As part of this expansion, Emirates will buy two new full-flight simulators from CAE: a Boeing 777 and an Airbus A320, both to be installed by spring 2006.

These contracts represent CAE's 10th and 11th full-flight simulator orders this fiscal year, and at list price are worth about $26 million.

The two simulators will feature the CAE Tropos visual system, which provides pilots with highly realistic visual cues through the application of extensive satellite imagery, enhanced weather, advanced real-time lighting and shading effects.

The third simulator, an Airbus A330/A340, is an existing device that will be relocated from within CAE's global network.

Press release

LufthansaTechnik chief visits Dubai

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum (centre), chairman of Emirates Group, and Maurice Flanagan (left),

vice-chairman and group president, with August Henningsen, chairman of LufthansaTechnik, during his

recent visit to Dubai.

©Gulf News