I may be wrong but STC is playing more of a ceremonial role now a days.
Think from owners perspective.
They got loans from everywhere.
Every other Dubai company is trying to help EK.
Removed all aviation regulations
Removed all labor laws
Removed all accounting laws
All in hope of creating a world class airline.
But what STC did
Ordered 100 Boeings and 50 Airbuses at every air show.
Employee morale at the lowest and shrinking
No proven revenue management skill
Mainly
no network discipline.
What happens when STC retires
Several planes buzzing around without making any money
Lenders start asking to repay loans
Family companies will say no more freebies to EK
Very few lessors ready to lease
Very few lenders ready to lend money
Yet EK has to find routes for 2 new B777s and one A380 every month.
CM should concentrate on three aspects
1) Cut
PR spending
2) Delay pending plane deliveries or cancel pending plane orders
3) Rationalize routes (I know hard to believe)