Thales’ Elias Merrawe on shaping the future of flight

In an era where the UAE aims to become a global aviation powerhouse, Thales is positioned as a pivotal player in the region’s aviation journey. Elias Merrawe, VP – Civil Business for Thales in the Middle East, discusses how the company is driving technological advancements, from smart airports to AI-powered air traffic management.

Here, Merrawe delves into Thales’ commitment to sustainability, its strategic partnerships with UAE entities, and its focus on nurturing local talent to support the UAE’s ambitious aviation goals.

The UAE has set ambitious goals to become a global aviation powerhouse. What do you see as the biggest opportunities for the aviation industry in the UAE and the wider Middle East region?

The Middle East’s exceptional growth as a global aviation hub is fuelled by three big strengths: its location as a transit hub for international travel; its thriving tourism industry; and its reputation as home to some of the world’s most respected, luxurious, and advanced airlines and airports.

The nation’s allure as a tourist destination, with its projected economic impact, guarantees a constant influx of travellers which has been exponential since Covid ended.

Let us take the UAE as an example. The country is projected to attract Dhs100bn in tourism investments and contribute a staggering Dhs450bn to the nation’s GDP by 2031. Thus justifying an investment of nearly Dhs128bn for Al Maktoum airport.

Some of the world’s most celebrated airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and flydubai are based in the UAE. These airlines have carved a space for themselves in the global landscape with their commitment to passenger experience and operational excellence; today, they are dominant forces in the global aviation landscape.

 A large part of the global standing of Middle East-based carriers can be attributed to the fact that they, along with the local airports, are indeed revolutionising the passenger experience through the implementation of innovative technologies. Biometric and contactless solutions either have been rapidly adopted already or are being increasingly adopted. Behind the scenes, airport operations are transforming to usher in a new era of seamless, secure, and efficient travel.

There are opportunities in the aviation industry that remain an area of focus for the next decades with fast-growing digital and artificial intelligence capabilities. Just imagine – the next generation of airports will look and feel like a mall without check-in counters, luggage being transported directly from houses into warehouses and then to the airplanes by drones, while all security checks are done before entering the airport.

This vision can be achieved if we maximise the utilisation of biometrics, advanced scanning devices, drones with secured corridors along with a robust cybersecurity system in place.

How is Thales positioned to contribute to these opportunities, particularly in terms of technological innovations and partnerships with local entities?

 Thales is a driving force in the digital front within the avionics, inflight entertainment, air and unmanned traffic management (ATM/UTM) systems, radar, drone management, airport security, biometrics and cybersecurity domains. Our comprehensive, end-to-end solutions are actively shaping the future of air transport, tackling its most pressing challenges head-on.

Earlier this year, we strengthened our commitment to a sustainable future by partnering with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Etihad Airways. This landmark collaboration will significantly reduce the environmental impact of aviation within the Emirates flight information region (FIR). Through this partnership, we empower airspace users to prioritise efficiently and reduce carbon emissions by optimising operations.

We are committed to being part of the “Make it in the Emirates” governmental initiative which made us largely expand our UAE suppliers network. We aim to buy our components for major systems from the UAE, enhance supply chain reliability, increase efficiency, and continue delivering high-quality products/services to our customers. Not only we are championing ‘Made in the Emirates’ products and expertise worldwide, we are also nurturing the local talent pool so that we can encourage sustainable economic growth.

In your opinion, what are the key technological advancements or trends driving the future of aviation in the UAE? How is Thales aligning itself with these trends?

 The UAE’s vision for the future of aviation is one of seamless connectivity, pioneering sustainability, and a passenger experience elevated by world-class technology.

Al Maktoum International Airport will be five times larger than the current Dubai International Airport and will be able to accommodate 400 aircraft gates to facilitate smooth operations. Thales is deeply aligned with this vision, developing and deploying solutions that are transforming the industry.

From AI-powered air traffic management systems that optimize airspace capacity and reduce emissions to biometric solutions that expedite passenger processing, Thales is at the forefront of innovation. The group’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its support for sustainable aviation fuels, flight operations optimisation, energy-efficient technologies, and the integration of eco-design principles across its product portfolio. Through these efforts, Thales is solidifying its position as a trusted partner, enabling the UAE to achieve its ambitious aviation goals and shape the future of flight.

The UAE’s “We the UAE 2031” vision sets a bold course for the nation’s future, and the aviation industry is crucial to realising its ambitious pillars. By pioneering sustainable aviation practices, the UAE emerges as a global leader in environmental leadership, driving green innovation and a zero-emissions future. Simultaneously, the nation’s commitment to developing a seamlessly connected ecosystem, powered by advanced physical and digital infrastructure, will solidify its position as a global hub for the efficient flow of people, goods, and services.

The aviation industry, with its focus on innovation and connectivity, is not a beneficiary of this vision but a driving force behind its realisation.

 Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in aviation. How is Thales contributing to the industry’s sustainability goals through its products and solutions?

Thales’ revolutionary flight management system (FMS), PureFlyt, is redefining aviation safety and efficiency, acting as the “brain” of the aircraft to optimize flight paths and significantly reduce the environmental impact of air travel. This trailblazing system leverages AI to calculate optimal trajectories, minimising fuel consumption, and noise pollution.

Through these advanced capabilities, PureFlyt is projected to achieve a remarkable 3 to 4 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 and NOx emissions compared to previous-generation FMS solutions. Bolstered by Thales’s global network of experts, PureFlyt stands as the industry benchmark – the most powerful, dependable, and connected FMS available today.

As a company, Thales has set ambitious targets to reduce its operational CO2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Furthermore, Thales committed to embedding eco-design principles into 100 per cent of its new products and services from 2023 onward. This commitment to sustainability is exemplified by the company’s pioneering work in developing “frugal AI”.

Recognising the increasing role of AI in its groundbreaking technologies, Thales’s leading researchers are prioritising energy-efficient algorithms and backing hybrid AI, a powerful blend of knowledge-based and symbolic AI, to ensure that technological advancement goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility.

Can you provide some examples of partnerships or projects that Thales is involved in that specifically aim to reduce the environmental impact of aviation?

As part of our 2024 partnership with the GCAA and Etihad Airways, our digital tools enable the selection of optimal flight plans, allowing for more direct routes and real-time flight profile adjustments, paving the way for a more streamlined and sustainable airspace. This initiative will see the implementation of ‘Thales Orchestrator for Eco-Friendly Trajectories’, a solution that enables users to implement optimised trajectories with ease and efficiency, tangibly reducing the environmental footprint of air travel.

We are also working with the GCAA and Tawazun Council to establish an ATM innovation lab within the UAE. Through this collaborative powerhouse, we aim to bring even more efficiency and sustainability to the UAE’s aviation ecosystem.

By optimising airspace capacity, we can drastically reduce congestion and minimise delays, enhance predictive analysis to anticipate and address potential air traffic challenges, and pioneer greener flight operations that significantly reduce aircraft CO2 emissions.

Thales also proudly stands as a member of the Aviation X Lab with Emirates. Our goal is to create a future where air travel is not only safer and more efficient but also environmentally responsible. This transformation is driven by sustained funding, collaborative innovation, a focus on emerging technologies like drones and AI, and a commitment to sustainability.

How is Thales investing in training and development to nurture the next generation of aviation talent, both locally and regionally?

Our mission is to build a future we can all trust. We recognise that achieving ambitious technological advancements hinges on the skill and dedication of exceptional individuals. Therefore, cultivating and empowering the next generation of talent, both locally and regionally, is paramount. Thales is dedicated to not only passing the torch to these rising talents but also to infusing the company with their fresh perspectives, thinking, and insights borne from their lived experiences.

We are investing in partnerships with universities and institutes in the region to foster local talent, drive innovation, and support the national visions of the countries that we operate in so that we can truly boost industrial autonomy.

Thales is a global leader in aerospace technology. How does the company envision its role in supporting the UAE’s vision for the future of air travel, especially with innovations like smart airports, airspace management, and autonomous systems?

As air passenger traffic continues its rapid ascent, with the UAE alone witnessing nearly 98 million passengers in the first eight months of 2024, Thales is at the forefront of ensuring safe, secure, and sustainable operations for air transport hubs.

Thales’s ‘Fly to Gate’ solution, which is a biometric border control solution, leverages deep expertise in identity management and cybersecurity to create a seamless and intuitive passenger experience while optimising passenger flow for airports and airlines.

How important are public-private partnerships for advancing the UAE’s aviation ambitions, and how is Thales involved in such initiatives

The UAE is undeniably a global aviation powerhouse. Back in 1971, it used to make up 1 per cent of the GDP and today, it contributes to over 13 per cent. As tourism grows, this remarkable growth trajectory is set to continue.

This exponential expansion necessitates a complimentary surge in technological innovation, infrastructural development, and knowledge acquisition to ensure the UAE’s aviation ecosystem remains at the forefront of global advancement.

Public-private partnerships are the cornerstone of national transformative progress. If we look at it a little deeper, it comes down to the investment in R&D that companies make in ensuring that they are at the forefront of innovation. Thales invests close to EUR4bn a year in R&D, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G, which we then bring to our partners in the different countries that we operate in. It is through this that we can drive innovation, foster local talent, and shape a future where technological prowess and sustainable practices go hand in hand.

Dubai International Airport selected Thales’s state-of-the-art TopSky ATC system in 2022. This advanced system not only equips air traffic controllers with the tools to manage the complexities of one of the world’s busiest airspaces but also aligns with the UAE’s commitment to sustainability through optimised airspace management and reduced emissions.

We can even look at IFE systems where Thales is placing passenger needs at the heart of the travel experience. Soon, Thales’s AVANT Up IFE systems are going to be onboard the Emirates’ A350 aircraft, which promises passengers an unparalleled level of customisation, convenience, personalisation, and superior cinematic viewing experiences.

Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for Thales in the UAE and the broader Middle East region in the coming years?

 Thales has been a trusted partner to the region for over four decades now, and I am confident that the best is yet to come. The aviation industry in the Middle East and the UAE is thriving, and I can share with you that we are committed to prioritising key areas like sovereignty and resilience within the UAE’s aviation ecosystem.

As a group, we will continue to leverage our vast experience, technology, and dedication to innovation to develop solutions that guarantee operational safety, enhance accessibility, and elevate the passenger experience through seamless connectivity and advanced entertainment systems.