Emirates is making some senior executive changes that appear to signal a final-stage competition to succeed 74-year old President Tim Clark, who has run the Dubai-based airline for two decades.

Promotions were announced on Thursday for Emirates Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim, who were both named Deputy Presidents under Clark.

Budget carrier Flydubai, meanwhile, said profit reached a record high of $572 million last year, rising 75% from 2022, as passenger numbers on the UAE budget airline surged 31% to 13.8 million.