A Conversation With Alaa; Leading the Way For Women In Aviation

Alaa has been with Flyme for almost seven years. She has shown that with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything! With a friendly and outgoing personality, Alaa has worked extremely hard to be where she is today. Read through as she explains her journey through Flyme.

Introduction

“My name is Aishath Alaa Abdul Hannan. I have been an employee at Villa Air Flyme for almost 07 years. I joined as a Reservation & Ticketing Assistant right after completing my A’ Levels, and now I am the Assistant Manager of the lucrative Scheduling & Capacity department.“

Ever since I was a child, I have had a keen interest in the aviation industry, so being able to work here as part of the OCC platform of such a prestigious company has been a dream come true for me.

The line of work which I am responsible for is truly of my area of expertise. Time management and building healthy client – service provider relations are a part of my day-to-day tasks, which I look forward to daily. As an outgoing and a person with a happy demeanor, I pride myself in maintaining personal contact with our clients to make sure the services we provide are up-to their standards, and to make sure the guests are fully satisfied with a wonderful ‘Flyme’ experience – to deliver upon our motto, to ‘fly you in style’. I take it upon myself to make sure that we are always on hand, to serve our beloved clients with the highest level of competency and efficacy they so truly deserve.

Aishath Alaa and a colleague from Flyme.

Professional Journey

The beginning of my journey started when I joined Flyme on the 07th of January 2013 as a Reservation & Ticketing Assistant. I was one of the first scheduler’s appointed after the formation of the Scheduling & Capacity department in Male’. In 2015, I received my first promotion, from an assistant to an officer where I stayed in the role till February 2017. In the same year, due to a structural change in operations of the company, I got the opportunity to explore the technical aspect of the airline operation. This was by transferring to the Flight Operations department as an officer, where I went on to acquire my Flight Dispatch License.

After one and half years of working in Flight Ops, I was promoted to a Flight Dispatch Supervisor. Not long after that, I got an offer to be where I am today; as the Assistant Manager of the Scheduling & Capacity Department.

The main advice I would give to aspiring aviators is to be patient and be passionate about the industry. As the old saying goes, ’patience is a virtue,’ success does not come overnight, you must work hard and with diligence, and verily, you will be a successful person in aviation. Every person you meet provides you a new insight of this ever growing industry, no matter if it is from your senior or from a fellow colleague, keep an open mind as you never know how it will impact your career in the future.”
Aishath Alaa Abdul Hannan, Assistant Manager of the Scheduling & Capacity Department – Flyme

About The Job

The main responsibility I have is monitoring and managing the most valuable asset of our inventory; our aircrafts. It is also under my belt to make sure the clients we serve are pleased with the level of service provided while keeping track of the status of our fleet.

The schedules made by my staff are constantly being monitored to ensure that it caters to both our operational requirements, while meeting our commercial expectations. I am also tasked with over-seeing my wonderful set of staff, who maintain close contact with our clients to provide a stress-free and personalized experience when dealing with the transfers of our valuable guests.

Future Goal

My future goal in this field of work is to be a reputed and respected woman, who leads by example, a person to be looked up to. By working as an Assistant Manager of such a lucrative department, I am hoping to be well known among my colleagues in the aviation industry and beyond.

Women in Maldives

I see no reason why Maldivian women, or any woman to not reach the highest positions in the aviation industry. As I do not believe that this industry can segregate the successes of an individual based on their gender. Regardless of what industry a person works in, I believe that, determination, perseverance and having a set target would help them achieve greatness. I have had the opportunity to work with inspirational women in my time in Villa Air. Aviators such as Villa Air’s Cabin Crew Manager, Liusha and Assistant Manager of Safety and Compliance, Sameeha – who is Maldives’s first female pilot, are people who I aspire to be, among the elite in the aviation industry. That being said, a measure of a person’s success does not rely on their gender, rather their passion and effort they put in to attaining what they set out to accomplish.

The article was originally published in FIYA Magazine, Issue 10, Published by MVHOTELS.

In April, the idyllic resorts of the Maldives remained steadfast in their pursuit of perfection. With this, resorts worked on ushering in a wave of key appointments and promotions to elevate the guest experience to new heights. Committed to crafting unforgettable moments and personalized services, these appointments underscored the unwavering dedication of the industry to anticipate and exceed the expectations of every traveller. Here, we delve into the notable appointments made across the archipelago, showcasing the ongoing efforts to redefine luxury, sustainability, culinary excellence, and wellness in paradise.

Mahmoud Elkhouly Returns to Nika Island Resort & Spa as Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing

Nika Island Resort & Spa recently welcomed Mohmoud Elkhaouly as Assistant Director of Sales. Prior to working in the Maldives, Mahmoud worked in Egypt as a Reservations Sales Agent. His career started as a Reservations Sales Agent at Sonesta Beach Resort. From there, he worked his way up to Reservations Supervisor at Ayada Maldives Resort & Spa.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli Appoints Athif Ibrahim as Learning & Development Manager

This April, Sun Siyam Iru Veli also appointed Athif Ibrahim as the new Learning & Development Manager. Athif’s hospitality journey started at One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives. From here on, Athif has worked in various roles. This includes a notable tenure in front-office management. His his current role, Athif will harness his expertise to drive innovative learning strategies and create tailored developmental programs. Through these programmes, he can ensure the empowerment of staff members at Sun Siyam Iru Veli.

Sun Siyam Resorts Promotes Ahmed Naufal to Group Director of Sales & Marketing

Sun Siyam Resorts also announced the promotion of Ahmed Naufal to Group Director of Sales & Marketing. Prior to this role, Naufal worked as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing at Sun Siyam Resorts. In his new role, Naufal will be responsible for developing robust sales and marketing growth strategies, fostering global partnerships, and driving business success for all of Sun Siyam Resorts. Naufal has been working with Sun Siyam Resorts since August 2021. He started his journey with the brand as Director of Sales and Marketing, playing a vital role in the global sales initiatives.

Chef Warren Moore Joins Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives as New Executive Chef

Chef Warren Moore, hailing from South Africa brings his wealth of experience as he joins Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll as the resort’s new Executive chef. With over 25 years of experience in the Restaurant and Hospitality industry, Chef Warren is set to elevate the culinary front at Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll. Prior to this role, Chef Warren also served as the Executive Chef at Jawakara Islands Maldives. Additionally, he has also spent seven years working in various esteemed properties of the Crown and Champa Resorts Group.

Baglioni Maldives Announces Two Key Appointments in April

This April, Baglioni Maldives also announced the appointments of Ahmed Azeef as Front Office Manager and Mariyam Rishma Hameed as Sales & Events Manager. With this appointment, Ahmed Azeef brings his wealth of experience to Baglioni Maldives. Additionally, Mariyam Rishma also brings a decade of experience to enhance the sales and events aspect of the resort.

The Ozen Collection Appoints Maalik Abdul Qayoom as Sales Manager

Yet another important appointment was announced this April at The Ozen Collection as Maalik Abdul Qayoom takes the role of Sales Manager – Destination Management Companies (DMCs). With this appointment, Maalik brings over 8 years of experience in Reservations and Revenue management. Prior to this role, Maalik has worked with esteemed hospitality brands such as Jumeirah, Fairmont, and The Residence as well.

SO/ Maldives Appoints Narain ‘Nick’ as Sales Manager

SO/ Maldives also made an important appointment this April as Narain ‘Nick’ takes on the role of the new Sales Manager of the resorts. Before this appointment, Nick has gained over 15 years of experience in different fields. In addition to hospitality, Nick also has experience in airlines and travel as well.

Avani + Fares Maldives Appoints Thaaif Ahmed

The newly opened Avani + Fares Maldives Resort announced the appointment of Thaaif Ahmed as the new Director of Sales & Marketing as well. With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, Thaaif brings exceptional leadership capabilities to the role. Prior to this, he played a pivotal role in driving revenue and growth at NH Collections Maldives. He has also worked at Anantara Dhigu Resort Maldives, Anantara Veli Resort Maldives as well as Naladhu Private Island.

W Maldives Promotes Ahmed Zahir and Ismail Saeed

This April, W Maldives announced the well-deserved promotions of Ahmed Zahir, who transitions into the role of Rooms Division Manager, and Ismail Saeed, now assuming the position of Welcome Manager. Formerly excelling as the Welcome Manager, Ahmed Zahir brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. The promotion is poised to further enhance guest experiences and operational excellence within the Rooms Division. Ismail Saeed, previously serving as the Lounge Manager, steps into the pivotal role of Welcome Manager. In this new role, his exceptional leadership skills and dedication to guest satisfaction will undoubtedly flourish.