THE Malaysian aviation industry was projected to lose RM13 bil this year as air travel plummeted in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic which triggered international travel restrictions.
On Dec 8, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) revealed that Malaysia’s passenger traffic dropped to its lowest in history, recording only 802,525 passengers in 2Q 2020 which signified a 97% decline from 26.7 million passengers in the same period of 2019.
MAVCOM further forecasted that passenger traffic will rebound in 2021 by between 94.2% and 100.3% which translates to 51.7 to 53.3 million passengers next year.
What then does all this mean to 27-year-old, Systematic Aviation Services (SAS) CEO Adora Ismail? Not much anxiety because her company is soaring.
The youngest CEO in the history of the Malaysian Aviation Industry is still keeping her nose to the grindstone, managing her late father’s “baby” – despite the pandemic.
SAS which has been in operation since 1994 is an aviation company that provides helicopter and fixed wing services.
The company also provide a full range of maintenance and overhaul services with parts supply to a wide range of fixed wing and rotor wing manufacturers. Its services also include flight and helicopter city tours as well as helicopter charter.
Under capable wing
Still mourning the demise of her father-mentor Ismail Asha’ari early this year, Adora has to quickly step-up to the plate – and this couldn’t have come at a very challenging time.
“One of the many lessons my father taught me in business was that in order to be the best, I have to do my best,” she reminisced.
“Also, he reminded me that the people who work for me are truly my assets; it’s important to always take care of their interests and learn from one another. He would always say that teamwork and respect are most important to a successful business.”
Adora, the second of four siblings, admits that holding a high-level position this young comes with more than a few road bumps.
“Young people tend to think with their heart and not their mind,” she attests. “At times, I’m no different. What I’ve learnt is to remain calm when making decisions, and to speak with respect when talking to older and younger people alike.”
She is also learning to listen as much as to give opinions; this is to ensure that every layer of the company is able to communicate with her.
“Fortunately, I work in a very civilised environment where problems can be solved through discussion,” she enthuses.
“Hence, there is no discrimination of position or hierarchy in my organisation, I try my best to treat everyone equally.”
Life in a predominantly male industry
Being raised abroad, it was never an issue for Adora to work in a male-centric industry.
“No doubt here in Malaysia, things do not work the same way as it’s not as common for women to hold high ranking positions,” she shares.
“However, I believe there are already so many outstanding female leaders in the local aviation industry. Their passion and enthusiasm are something I admire.”
Personally, Adora does not perceive that being female is as much of a disadvantage. The bigger hurdle as a young CEO is working with people who are more experience than her.
However, she strongly encourages young women and budding entrepreneurs to strive for what they are most passionate about.
“Truly the sky is your limit, so go for it! Young or old, female or male, everyone is special in their own way,” she opines.
Maneuvering through turbulent times
As if there was not enough on her plate, challenges piled on when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
With Malaysia and the entire world having been hit by a global health crisis, Adora reckons that it is self-explanatory that not just the aviation industry is affected but in general, all businesses are struggling to survive.
“Although I’m not running a global or international airline, I still have many challenges in these trying times,” she confesses. “We do not want the aviation industry in particular to shrink. No competition is unhealthy for the industry.”
So where to is her next destination?
“Right now, my goal is to lead SAS into the international arena; to cater for the region and to be the best one-stop centre for engineering services, flight services and aviation training,” she concludes. – Dec 18, 2020
