Menzies Aviation’s Hassan El-Houry on navigating war, airline pressures and global expansion

The war in the Middle East is causing chaos for the global aviation industry. Flight schedules are becoming unreliable, fuel prices are skyrocketing, and airfare costs are skyrocketing alongside. Yet, passenger demand is still soaring, with an estimated five billion travelers expected this year. For Hassan El-Houry, the CEO of Menzies Aviation, a titan of the aviation services sector, the challenge lies in keeping operations running smoothly at 365 airports across 65 countries amid the industry's stranglehold on profitability.

Manus Cranny, in an episode of "The Inside Brief," talks to Mr. El-Houry about the conflict's impact on global aviation and his outlook on the industry's swift recovery once stability returns. He also discloses Menzies' bold expansion ambitions in the Middle East, especially the UAE, following its acquisition of American aviation services firm G2 Secure Staff.

El-Houry elaborates on why the company is determined to vie for a share of the region's market, whether an IPO is forthcoming, and why Britain's Heathrow airport's third runway delay could weaken its standing as a global aviation hub.

The discussion also pivots to El-Houry's extraordinary journey, from being a refugee during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait to now commanding a global enterprise. He reflects on the wisdom gleaned from his military service, ascending to chief executive at just twenty-eight, and why human connection and critical thinking remain pivotal in the era of artificial intelligence. "The Inside Brief" with Manus Cranny is accessible on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading platforms.