Kicked out by Sri Lanka but embraced by world’s richest man

Sri Lanka may have unceremoniously kicked out Emirates from managing the national carrier, making various allegations, but the world’s richest man and founder of global giant Microsoft, has literally embraced and partnered the Dubai based carrier for a ground breaking deal.

The two firms said yesterday that they would set up an Innovation Lab in Dubai, to develop new products and services for the travel industry, using Microsoft’s cutting-edge technologies and tapping on Emirates’ expertise and experience in developing IT solutions for the aviation and travel industry. Both companies will invest in the project.

Microsoft will work with Emirates experts in the “Dubai Innovation Lab”, which will be amongst the first of its kind for both companies in this field. The lab will enable Emirates’ IT division, Mercator, to incubate and develop creative new solutions for airline and travel customers around the world, including Emirates Airline. Mercator’s IT solutions are today used by over 50 airlines globally.

The lab will take Microsoft’s latest technologies and apply them to the development of new ways of doing things across all parts of the travel and aviation industry – from reservations and check-in to cargo and ground handling systems.

“Emirates Airline has established a powerful reputation as a dynamic, forward-thinking company, and this agreement would strengthen this reputation further,” said General Manager, Microsoft Gulf, Charbel Fakhoury. “By adopting these next-generation technologies, the airline is setting an important precedent. The Gulf region has a massive potential to contribute to the global development of technology-driven innovations, and Emirates is leading the way.”