Maurice Flanagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maurice Flanagan
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|---|---|
| Born | 17 November 1928 Leigh, Lancashire, England
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| Died | 7 May 2015 (aged 86) London, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | British |
| Education | Leigh Boys Grammar School and Lymm Grammar School |
| Alma mater | Liverpool University |
| Occupation | Executive vice-chairman of The Emirates Group |
| Spouse(s) |
Audrey Bolton
(m. 1955, d.7 June 2020) |
| Children | 3 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1951–1956 |
| Rank | Flying Officer |
Sir Maurice Flanagan KBE CBE (November 17, 1928 – May 7, 2015) was a very important British businessman. He was the person who first started and led Emirates, which is a huge airline. He also served as the executive vice-chairman of The Emirates Group, which is the company that owns Emirates airline.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Maurice Flanagan was born in 1928 in a town called Leigh in England. He went to Leigh Boys Grammar School and later to Lymm Grammar School. After that, he studied History and French at Liverpool University.
Serving in the Royal Air Force
Maurice Flanagan completed his National Service in the RAF. This was a time when young men had to serve in the military. He worked as a navigator officer. He joined the RAF in February 1951 and became a pilot officer. By March 1954, he was promoted to flying officer. He finished his service two years later.
A Different Path
One evening, he hurt his knee. This injury meant he could not become a professional football player. A team called Blackburn Rovers had even shown interest in him. Instead, he chose a career in aviation.
Career in Aviation
In 1953, Maurice Flanagan joined BOAC. This was a major British airline at the time. He started as a management trainee. Over the years, he worked for the airline in many different countries. These included Kenya, Sri Lanka, Peru, Iran, India, and the UK.
A Creative Side
In 1969, Maurice Flanagan won a TV playwriting competition. It was run by Observer newspaper and ITV. His play was called "The Garbler Strategy." It was a funny story about how businesses are managed. A famous judge, Kenneth Tynan, even asked him to write for the Royal National Theatre. But Maurice Flanagan decided to stick with his promising airline career.
Leading Airlines
Maurice Flanagan spent 25 years working for BOAC and British Airways. He held many important management jobs. In 1974, he was sent to work for Dnata. Dnata is an organization in Dubai that manages travel and airport services.
In 1978, he became the director and general manager of Dnata. Then, in 1985, the government of Dubai asked him to start a new airline. This new airline was Emirates.
Starting Emirates Airline
Emirates started with $10 million in funding. But it was so successful that it paid back all the money the very next year! This showed how well Maurice Flanagan had launched the airline.
In 1990, he became the group managing director of the Emirates Group. This is the company that owns Emirates airline. In 2003, he became vice chairman and group president. He was appointed executive vice chairman in 2006 and retired in 2013.
Many people believe Maurice Flanagan was one of the last important British leaders. He helped build the strong companies that made Dubai so successful.
Retirement
After more than 60 years in aviation, Sir Maurice Flanagan decided to retire. He had spent 35 of those years with the Emirates Group. He retired in April 2013.
Awards and Honours
Maurice Flanagan received several important awards for his work.
- In 2000, he was given a CBE. This award is called Commander of the Order of the British Empire. It was for his services to communities in the United Arab Emirates and to aviation.
- In 2010, he was given an even higher award, a KBE. This means he became a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This is why he was called "Sir Maurice Flanagan."
Other Recognitions
The music center at Dubai College is named after him. Dubai College is a British school in the United Arab Emirates, and Flanagan was on its board.
He also received many other awards, including:
- Flight International magazine's Personality of the Year.
- Membership in the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame.
- Aviation Legend award from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
- Being named a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
- Being an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, which is their highest award.
- Being a Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.
- Membership on the executive committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Personal Life and Death
In 1955, Maurice Flanagan married Audrey Bolton, who was a journalist. They had three children and five grandchildren.
Sir Maurice Flanagan passed away at his home in London on May 7, 2015. He was 86 years old.
Sources
- Mathew Murphy. No flights of fancy for an airline man, profile in The Age (Australia), 10 November 2007
- Louise Armitstead. Emirates boss heads for bigger goals, profile in The Sunday Times (UK), 23 July 2006
- Travel and Tourism News profile & list of awards
- Wharton Business School profile
