Mobility
1. Emirates
Chairman and CEO: Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Country: U.A.E. Established in: 1985 Emirates was established in 1985 with a seed fund of $10 million. In the first five years of its operations, it only flew to 14 destinations. Today, Emirates travels to 120 destinations with a fleet of 270 aircraft. More than 15.8 million passengers traveled with the Dubaibased airline in 2020, with 1.2 million customers flying with Emirates between July and August of 2021. In January 2021, it began to trial the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) Travel Pass, which enables passengers to create a digital passport to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination requirements.
2. Qatar Airways
Group CEO: Akbar Al Baker
Country: Qatar Established in: 1997 Qatar Airways began operations in 1994 as a small regional carrier, but it was reestablished in 1997 as an international airline. Today, it flies to 130 destinations from Hamad International Airport in Doha. More than 10.6 million international passengers traveled with Qatar Airways in 2020. Qatar Airways is the official sponsor of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In March 2021, the airline began trials of IATA’s Travel Pass mobile app.
F O R B E S M I D D L E E A S T.C O M
OCTOBER 2021
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MENA’S BIGGEST AIRLINES
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MENA’s 10 Biggest Airlines
