• Sir Maurice Flanagan KBE HonFRAeS

After graduating from Liverpool University, Maurice Flanagan served with the Royal Air Force for two years as a navigating officer and in 1953 joined the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), the predecessor of British Airways (BA), as a graduate trainee. He ascended through a variety of overseas posts to area manager level and returned to the United Kingdom in 1965 as a route planning manager. He joined British Airways’ senior management team in 1974. In 1978, Sir Maurice Flanagan left British Airways to become Director and General Manager of Dnata, the forerunner of Emirates and now its sister company. He became Managing Director of the Emirates Group and in July 2003 became Vice Chairman and Group President. Sir Maurice Flanagan was appointed Executive Vice Chairman in 2006. Flying alongside this was his literary life, as a published poet and the author of an award-winnning television play, 'The Garbler Strategy'. 

Awards and Honours

In 1998 the Royal Aeronautical Society awarded an Honorary Fellowship, the industry's most ultimate accolade, to Maurice Flanagan. The award was presented at the Society's headquaters in London by its President, Captain Jock Lowe. In recognition of his contribution to community relations in the UAE and services to aviation Sir Maurice was invested with his award as Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2000. In 2004 he was honoured by Flight International as its Personality of the Year and received an award from Airline Business for his role in the development of Emirates into a global aviation force. In May 2005, Sir Maurice was inducted into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame during the 11^th edition of its annual ceremony, for his significant contribution to the travel industry. Sir Maurice received the Official Airline Guide (OAG) Lifetime Achievement Award during the 23^rd annual OAG Airline of the Year Awards 2005 ceremony. It was presented both for his part in developing the Dubai-based international carrier into a major global airline, and for his more than 50 years of service to the aviation industry. Sir Maurice was only the second recipient of the award. In 2007 he was honoured with the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s (CAPA) Legends Award and inducted into the CAPA Hall of Fame. Shortly after, in November 2008, he was made a liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators and a Freeman of the City of London, in recognition of his services to aviation and to the Guild. In 2010 Sir Maurice Flanagan was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Later in the year, he was presented with the Award of Honour by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. This was presented to him for an outstanding lifetime of achievement and enduring contribution to aviation.