Dubai-based airline Emirates has announced it will renew its contract with Havas Media. Havas Media will continue to manage the global media strategy, planning, social, traditional and digital investments for Emirates across the carrier’s 150 worldwide destinations through to 2020.
Since winning the account in a hotly contested pitch in 2014, Havas Media has led the consolidated media business for some of the airline’s most high profile campaigns featuring Pele, Ronaldo and Jennifer Aniston.
Boutros Boutros, divisional senior vice-president of corporate communications, market and brand for Emirates Group, said: “As our industry is driven by change and opportunity, it’s essential we work with business partners who share our progressive mind-set. Emirates and Havas Media have similar cultures and what I call a ‘change agent’ mentality. I am excited to see what we can achieve as we continue to propel the Emirates brand into 2020.”
Global managing director of Havas Group Dominique Delport said, “It’s an honour for us to continue working with Emirates, without doubt the trail blazers for quality and service. Their unparalleled ambition is shared by every one of us and we will continue to drive their business forward both in our shared home of Dubai and across their 150+ destinations.”
Emirates launched its first ad with Friends star Jennifer Aniston in 2015. The TVC was directed by Bryan Buckley, RKCR/Y&R London developed the concept while the script was a collaboration between the agency, Buckley and Emirates’ in-house advertising team.
In April 2016, Emirates handed its regional creative to Leo Burnett. The incumbent had been Impact BBDO.
The previous August, Emirates appointed an interdisciplinary WPP team to handle its global branding and creative account. Team Air brought together staff from Grey’s London and New York offices, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, Geometry Global, Hogarth and TNS. Grey London and Grey New York started developing brand communications for Emirates almost immediately, while RKCR/Y&R’s first work was launched around the Rugby World Cup, of which the airline is a global partner.