Click images to view larger versions

choices in life

Working in the airline industry is not just a job for Mohammed Shikely but the fulfilment of an inner calling
Mayank Singh

"My team is here and I have a job to do. So I need to be here." It was 1987 and Mohammed al Shikely was the airport manager for Gulf Air in Sri Lanka. With the outbreak of a civil war (between government troops and the Tamil Tiger ultras), all foreigners were asked to leave Sri Lanka. Gulf Air's head office also asked him to come back, but the man decided to stay put despite the odds and even threat to life.

The airport at Kathanaika was at some distance from Colombo and since the stretch was desolate, security had to be arranged for passengers and the airline staff. Sometimes, with curfew imposed for several days, Shikely would be stuck at the airport for long periods. "There were times when I would leave for the airport in the night and at every check point I had to switch off the car's headlights and switch on the inside lights. Having lived in Oman where security was never an issue, this sense of terror was a new experience for me."

This unrelenting attitude in the line of duty and a passion for the aviation industry has marked the career of Shikely, senior marketing manager, Oman Air. He grew up in England and moved to Oman in 1980 along with his family. While he was toying with the idea of pursuing higher education in the sultanate, an advertisement for a customer relations job with Gulf Air at Seeb International airport caught his eye. Despite opposition from his parents who wanted him to pursue higher education, Shikely applied for the job and got it. He was just 15 then. His rise was meteoric. At the age of 22 he was the airport manager in Colombo and since then there has been no looking back.

While the glamour of the aviation industry might have been a big motivator at an impressionable age, his love for the industry has only grown over the years. With assignments in Tanzania, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka and Oman, he feels that the industry has been instrumental in his growth as a person. "I have been fortunate that I could work in different parts of the world, enabling me to look at issues from diffe-rent perspectives. Though one interacts with foreigners in one's own country, working with people of different nationalities in their own countries provides one with a totally different understanding. A related aspect to this is that it teaches one that everybody from different walks of life has an ability to contribute to a single goal and one should never underestimate anyone's abilities.”

The experiences have also shaped his managerial style. Says Tarek Lotayef, general manager, Holiday Inn Muscat, “I have never seen him lose his cool. He assesses every situation in the best possible way before taking a decision. He is methodical and organised.” Shikely believes in a democratic approach. “I believe in giving my subordinates the latitude to participate in decision making." This is echoed by John Van der Flaes, manager, revenue optimisation, Oman Air. "He is very amiable and approa-chable. He gives us independence in making decisions. The only thing that he expects is to be kept informed."

Shikely names two personalities from the aviation industry as people who have had a great influence on him. The first is Jan Carlzon, who was president and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines from 1981 to 1993. Carlzon counted it to be one his biggest successes when the juniormost guy in the airline addressed him on a first name basis. "That kind of attitude inspires me," says Shikely. The other big influence has been Herb Kelleher, the founder and inspiration behind Southwest Airlines. In an industry, which has never made a profit since its inception, Southwest Airlines has posted profits year-on-year since its inception in 1971. “This is largely the result of Kelleher's ability to redefine customer service and bring it down to all the touch points of our business. His ability to direct change was also phenomenal. Everyone working in his company was made to feel that he or she was part of his vision."

With Oman Air enjoying a period of rapid growth and expansion, Shikely feels the Southwest ethos at work in the national carrier. The airline has chalked out plans of flying to new destinations like Jaipur and Lucknow (in India) and is inducting three new wide-bodied 737s this year. "The airline industry is an exciting business to be in, it has evolved so much over the years (in terms of aircraft, systems and operations) that there is never a dull day." Being in charge of a range of functions like pricing, reservation control, marketing and communications, Oman Air Holidays and frequent flyer programmes ensure a host of interaction both within and outside the orga-nisation. The flip side of this is that he is always on duty. "My mobile phone is never switched off so that I am available 24/7."

He relishes the time that he gets to spend with his 'five beautiful children' – Mubarak, Saud, Faiz, Ahmed and his six month old daughter Salwa. “I find great pleasure in spending time with them.” Shikely admits he is an indulgent father, loves playing football with his kids or discussing the fortunes of their favourite teams. He recollects fondly how Mubarak forced him to paint Oman's flag on his car during the recent Gulf Cup.

The sea is a favourite recreational venue for the whole family; they go swimming and snorkelling on weekends. His children set the agenda for a lot of things from vacation destinations to the kind of programmes that he gets to see on TV. Vacations are usually to places where the kids have enough to enjoy – like Euro Disney in France and Malaysia, with its rides for children. And on TV, it is cartoons and action movies. Shikely says he finds it to be a great unwinding experience.

With a job that has involved shifting across countries over the years, Shikely appreciates the way his wife Rahma has negotiated the dislocations inherent in a career in the aviation industry. "She has looked at my postings in various countries as an opportunity to learn something. Everywhere that we have been to, she has tried to learn something new."

He likes to read management books like The Seven Habits Of Successful People, Jack Canfield's The Success Principles, Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws Of Power and books by Tom Peters.