Emirates president Tim Clark emphasizes better worker treatment for Boeing’s recovery in a recent interview with Business Insider

Dubai: Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, recently shared his thoughts on Boeing’s struggles. He believes the company needs to treat its workers better to recover from its current issues.
In an interview with Business Insider, Clark said, “You look after the people, they look after you.” He pointed out that Boeing’s previous management had neglected this important aspect for too long.
He questioned whether Boeing got into its current mess by treating employees poorly while profiting handsomely. Clark stressed that a better approach would help avoid strong union pressures.
Last year, a seven-week strike added to Boeing’s challenges. The acting labor secretary even had to step in to help with negotiations. Eventually, union members accepted a deal that raised pay by 38% over four years, along with a $12,000 bonus.
Emirates is a major customer for Boeing, boasting the largest fleet of Boeing 777s and having ordered over 200 of the new 777X model, which has faced delays in certification.
In 2024, Boeing delivered only 348 planes, the lowest since the pandemic, as it dealt with the fallout from a significant incident involving Alaska Airlines.
Now under new CEO Kelly Ortberg, Boeing is trying to revamp its production processes. However, Clark believes it will take years for the company to fully bounce back, possibly until the end of the decade.
He advised Boeing to focus on producing high-quality, safe aircraft, saying that profits will follow. Clark also encouraged the company to ignore outside pressures from analysts and concentrate on making great airplanes.
Clark expressed a desire to see Boeing recover and return to its former glory, stating, “We need Boeing — we need them to get back to the type of company that produced the excellent aircraft they always used to do.”
In 2024, Boeing’s shares dropped by 31%, marking the largest decline among the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Boeing has yet to respond to requests for comments from Business Insider.