Career in Airline Industry : Interview with Wasim Bashir

MANGOBAAZ INTERVIEW:
Wasim Bashir, Airport Services Manager, Peshawar

1. Tell us about yourself and your 3 decades long journey with Emirates.

My name is Wasim Bashir and I was born and received all my education in Karachi. I completed my Matriculation from St Paul’s English High School, my Intermediate from DJ Science College and Graduation in Commerce from St Patrick’s Government College Karachi.

I started my journey with Emirates with a very humble beginning on 1 July 1992 as a junior station Assistant at a mere age of 21 years at Karachi International Airport. Since then there has been no looking back and I have climbed the ladders of success with the company to where I am now, as Airport Services Manager at Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar.

The experiences that I have gone through during this long journey with Emirates have been memorable, positive and unbelievable, leaving me with vivid memories over the years.

Seeing the Emirates fleet grow, from the leased B727 aircraft to B777s and the A310sa evolving into A-380s during my tenure with the company has been an exhilarating experience. “Keep discovering” an apt slogan as each time we would look forward to an announcement of a new destination being added to our growing network. Having the experience and honour of handling one flight a day, to a peak of seven flights daily in Karachi, has left me with a sense of fulfilment.

2. Can you share some of your early experiences working with Emirates and how the airline has evolved since then?

In the early days of 1992, Emirates Airport Services office was under a corrugated roof on Terminal 1, with our flight arriving at Terminal 2 and departure was processed from Terminal 3. Working between three terminals at Karachi International Airport was even more challenging since there were no Boarding bridges so the aircraft was parked on the Apron and Passenger Steps were used for disembarkation and embarkation on the aircraft. In August 1992, one month after I joined the company, the new Jinnah International Airport was commissioned with the latest Passenger Boarding Bridges and the new terminal was constructed with the most modern amenities and facilities for the International and Domestic passengers using the airport.

In the early days of my journey with Emirates, we used to process cargo acceptance with the cargo team and assist the Baggage Services team as well. Most of the employees even between the Emirates Group headquarters and outstations knew one another, but now Emirates has grown exponentially, and while we may not know a majority of our colleagues in other countries we serve, the expansion has been worth it.

3. As an experienced employee, what key values or principles do you believe have contributed to the success of Emirates?

Emirates has always been customer oriented by providing service excellence both on ground and in the air. Emirates delivers operational performance that is safe, efficient and consistent and one that is improving all the time. It is also a very international airline so it understands the customers’ needs in every country it operates in. This means understanding customer preferences, preferred dining options and what programmes they like. Our multi-national cabin crew also make all of our passengers feel welcome onboard and speak to them in their local language. These service standards make a huge difference in creating a loyal customer base.

4. During your time at Emirates, have there been any challenging periods or industry disruptions that you and the company had to overcome? How did you navigate through those situations?

There have been a number of challenging periods and industry disruptions that myself and the company had to overcome during these years. On a daily basis we are prepared for many scenarios that require us to make alternative plans. These include weather and medical diversions, births onboard, and other medical emergencies.

We are also accustomed to challenging situations where we must cooperate with the authorities to obtain necessary approvals for our operations.

We’ve faced political situations that impacted our operations, COVID19 restrictions, the Ash cloud that impacted the aviation industry and more including operational issues at airports that posed challenges for us and customers. In the end, we overcame the issues through teamwork and preparedness.

5. Throughout your career, how has Emirates supported employee development and encouraged a sense of belonging within the organization?

Throughout my career, Emirates has supported employee development and encouraged a sense of belonging within the organisation by seeing me as partner engaged in Emirates’ success and placing importance on own personal and professional development. This has allowed me to build a rewarding career with the company and take on more responsibilities.

6. As you look back on your three decades with Emirates, what are some of the achievements that you are most proud of, both personally and professionally?

Some of the achievements that I am most proud of, both personally and professionally include participating in the setup and opening of our Peshawar station in 1998 and Lahore station in 1999. I was appreciated by my senior management for the exceptional efforts to overcome the challenges during the pandemic period. “Your dedication and resilience helped our operations go further, smarter!”

In other situations I was able to navigate certain situations well and prevent losses for the company or resolve issues that could have had a huge impact on our operations.

7. As an individual with extensive experience, have you been involved in mentoring or guiding newer employees within the organization?

I was a designated “Work Place Coach” and Training Coordinator for Karachi station where I was involved in developing and mentoring juniors and new joiners in the Emirates Airport Services team as well as the Ground Service Providers team. This makes me especially proud to pass on my experience gained from years of service to new team members.

8. What advice would you give to Pakistanis starting their career in the airline industry, and how can they grow and thrive within the industry?

My advice to Pakistanis starting their career in the airline industry is to be honest and loyal to their work. They can grow and thrive within the industry with patience, perseverance, passion and professionalism.