While the Middle Eastern aviation industry has faced a decline in flights in recent months due to regional tensions, the President of Emirates Airlines has sent a clear message to competitors: this is a temporary setback, not a change in direction.

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines, stated at a press conference in Berlin that the airline does not intend to scale back its operations or retreat from markets. He emphasized that the company will return to its global network with "high speed and full power" after the recent crisis.

He specifically referred to European airlines, stating that some are taking advantage of the reduced capacity of Middle Eastern carriers; a situation he claims will not last long. His message was direct: this is a temporary opportunity, and the return of this airline will be serious.

Clark mentioned that since conflicts have led to the closure of parts of the region's airspace, major companies like Emirates and Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have been forced to reduce some of their operations. This has given European airlines like Lufthansa the opportunity to add more capacity towards Asia.

However, he reiterated that this situation is not sustainable and that with the full return of Middle Eastern airlines, market balance will change again.

In another part of his remarks, Clark repeated an old complaint about the development of routes: the access limitations of Emirates Airlines to certain markets, especially Berlin. He stated that the company has been trying for years to obtain flight slots to Berlin but has faced restrictions, while he claims that the presence of this airline in Germany has created significant economic value.

On the other hand, he mentioned an important point regarding the future fleet of the company. Emirates Airlines has not yet made a definitive decision regarding the purchase of the larger Airbus A350-1000 from Airbus. The main reason cited was concerns about the performance of its engines in the harsh weather conditions of the Middle East.

Finally, Clark, who is now 76 years old, stated that he currently has no plans to retire and wants to continue through this critical period in the company; with the assurance that the management team of Emirates Airlines is ready to fully manage operations even in his absence.