The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
The Inside Brief: Menzies chief on aviation’s recovery and a lifetime of navigating crises
From becoming a refugee during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Hassan El Houry reflects on resilience and leadership
Hassan El Houry, chief executive of Menzies, oversees a global workforce of about 65,000 employees across 65 countries, speaking in the launch edition of The Inside Brief season two.
The discussion follows the security incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073, which diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia on September 30 and is under investigation by UAE authorities.
El Houry emphasizes that rebuilding public confidence is the industry’s next task and notes that security measures for staff are thorough and already in place, similar to passenger screening, with expectations these measures may gain more public visibility.
He points to cost pressures as a major challenge, citing a rise in jet fuel of 50 percent or more since the crisis began and ticket prices increasing severalfold, while noting that demand remains strong, with around five billion passengers expected to fly this year.
El Houry reflects on resilience learned from his life experiences, including displacement in 1990 and compulsory military service, and explains his career path from Kuwait to Agility and then to leading the world’s largest integrated aviation services group.