Ajoob Ali
Summary
Dynamic Senior Cargo Operations Agent with Emirates Airlines, skilled in quality assurance and effective communication. Proven track record in enhancing operational standards and compliance, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and managing complex cargo handling processes. Adept at fostering team collaboration and ensuring adherence to customs regulations, resulting in optimised performance across the network.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Cargo Operations Agent
Emirates Airlines
03.2024 - Current
- Oversee HUB operations and ensure tasks are completed within the specified timeframe.
• Propose new procedures or amendments to the existing safety management system to improve continuously or to raise the level of control over risks in the company.
• Developing, monitoring and reviewing of self-inspection checklists submitted by the outstations.
• Identify and highlight the non-adherence of adverse KPI trends in the network.
• Guiding on station's Dangerous Goods, Live Animal, Perishable, Pharma or other special cargo queries and provide "OK to FWD" after verifying the documentation and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in the development and review of internal quality and operational manuals ( SOPs, Work Instructions, Circulars) related to cargo operations.
• Conducting Safety and Conformance audits of Dubai Emirates Hub and Outstations landside and airside activities across the Emirates network. This includes auditing the ramp handling of Emirates aircraft, for both Passenger and Freighter flights.
• Assist in developing and implementing a total quality management framework, system and processes which adhere to both external and internal requirements and standards.
• Receiving and facilitating external stakeholder audits (GCAA, GDP, UK DFT, TSA, EASA, etc. and potential customers of Emirates SkyCargo).
• Operational performance measurement for all the special cargo transported by Emirates Airlines.
• Assess standards against the defined internal, competitive and functional benchmarking standards and help the department improve service standards to match or exceed world-class standards.
• Assure the integrity of the inventory and assist in conducting physical inventories.
• Responsible for station conformance (across the Emirates SkyCargo international network stations) related to compliance with local and global regulations in line with ICAO and IATA directives and the conformance standard of outstation ground service providers.
• Responsible for preparing Emirates SkyCargo for the IOSA recertification.
• Coordination of outstation audit preparation activities. This involves analysing month-wise station performance data in terms of regulatory conformance, achievement of quality assurance targets, CiQ (Cargo iQ, an IATA interest group with the mission of creating and implementing quality standards for the worldwide air cargo industry) data analysis for the station being audited and ground operations performance of the GHA (appointed Ground Handling Agent for Emirates).
• Analysis of conformance trends which directly impact the SLA Quality Standards related to Emirates SkyCargo ground operations service on all international sectors.
• Maintaining and provisioning of information needed by external auditors representing key stakeholders and customers who use Emirates SkyCargo services for Pharmaceuticals (GDP), Sensitive goods (Perishables), Valuable transport, etc.
• Key point of contact for outstations regarding Outstation Safety Risk Registers (mandatory regulatory compliance).
• Investigation of ground safety incidents that directly affect the Safety of Aircraft, Crew and Passengers and recommendation of preventive actions aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence as low as reasonably possible.
• CAPA to be implemented in the ground operations process for proactive improvement of ground handling conformance to regulatory and safety requirements.
• Assist in providing relevant investigation reports to Emirates SkyCargo outstations during local civil aviation authority audits and inspections.
• Undertake Training of new joiners in the Cargo Conformance department to bring them on board with the daily functioning and responsibilities of the Emirates Sky Cargo Conformance department.
• Review and suggest changes to the Emirates SkyCargo Operational Quality Manual to comply with regulatory updates and organizational Quality Standards.
• Conduct operational site inspections, including airside operations, to ensure adherence to set Operational Conformance and report deviations to the operations management team for immediate corrective measures.
• Assist in the production of the annual audit plan and manage the audit network-wide, as well as close out on corrective/ preventive action.
• Analyse and produce monthly reports on the audit findings for the management team to facilitate the decision-making process and ensure continuous improvement of processes, systems and performance.
• Screen cargo based on consignee, shipper, destination and origin and ensure that it complies with the regulatory requirements (OFAC, BIS, Trade Compliance, etc).
• Oversee external safety audits, regulatory such as IOSA, GCAA, TSA on behalf of SkyCargo and undertake Safety Risk and develop SAG SharePoint with Emirates Group Safety.
• Ensure that the GHA & GSA adhere to the parameters mentioned in the Service Legal Agreements (SLA), and any non-adherence observed is immediately highlighted to the Senior Manager.
• Follow through the audit findings/observations and initiate/follow up corrective action in liaison with concerned stakeholders towards effective implementation of such corrective actions.
• Support the management of enhancing the centralised feedback quality management and issue tracking system for SkyCargo (Coruson/ Q-pulse System or equivalent).
• Apply quality management tools and statistical process control techniques to identify patterns and to assess and improve quality.
• Collaborate on monthly regulatory audits for safety & compliance & to prepare for the Airline Internal Audit Review.
• Coordinate with the HUB and the outstations and investigate the Safety Incidents reported across the network, to monitor and measure the root causes.
• Support the Audit team with reports on discrepancies and Training records.
• Support Amendment & version control of Cargo & Mail Handling Manual, Operation Quality Manual and Cargo Information Summary (CIS).
• Support Amendment & version control of Cargo & Mail Handling Manual, Operation Quality Manual and Cargo Information Summary (CIS).
• Developing Internal and External Business Processes.
• Guiding on station's Dangerous Goods queries, reviewing the Safety Risk Assessments of outstations and GHA and establishing the corrective and preventive action plans
to ensure the non-occurrence. Of Safety Incidents in future.
• Host/Assist in external safety and regulatory audit preparations.
• Responsible for granting the RFC Agent Status to the freight forwarders by evaluating the handling facilities and GCAA DGR License.
Cargo Operations Agent - Management Support
Emirates Airlines
06.2023 - 02.2024
- · Handling the airside ground handling discrepancies happening in aircraft turnaround, logistics, cargo & ULD, and communicating with the relevant departments.
- · Arranging monthly meetings with the DNATA airside operations team and highlighting the discrepancies and advising possible ways to reduce them.
- · Checking activities related to discrepancies, staff strength, and the initial roster plan.
- · Routine check-ups with the ramp team, site office team, and EK perishable team and ensuring all the standards and procedures are followed and maintained.
- · Preparing all the weekly and monthly management reports.
Cargo Operations Agent - Cargo Operations
Emirates Airlines
09.2014 - 05.2023
- Hub Manifesting: To verify inbound and outbound AWBs along with other relevant documents planned for allocated flights. Regularizing shipments in the SkyChain (Emirates SkyCargo Application) application booked on allocated flights to convey information to the warehouse team for the fit-to-fly of booked cargo and taking finals from the warehouse team for the allocated flights and clearing discrepancies, if any, to manifest the flight with the planned cargo and sending the same information to the destination along with the documents for the same.
- Hub Updating: Departure- To depart the flight in SkyChain after the physical departure of the same, along with stamping proper SkyChain codes for relocated or offloaded shipments for various applicable scenarios, and sending the flight finalisation report to the destination. Arrival - to check ramp-to-ramp transfer ULDs and send information to the ramp team for connection. Arriving flight in SkyChain, sending proper breakdown or storage information to the warehouse team.
- Hub UWS (Unit Weight Statement): To prepare finals for the loaded units and compare actual vs manifested weights per ULDs against tare weight and inform the concerned teams of any discrepancies to rectify and resolve. Sending UWS information to the load control after finalizing the UWS for the assigned flight, coordinating with the load control team, and assisting them with the requirements they needed.
Cargo Operations Agent
DNATA CARGO, ERBIL AIRPORT, IRAQ
05.2013 - 06.2014
- Monitoring the verification process of different Export Documents at the time of acceptance.
- Providing support to the Airlines in their loading process for their Freighter/Passenger Flights by fulfilling their requirements.
- As a custodian providing support in the Customs Clearance Process/Customs
- Examination/Airline's Examination Process.
- Establishing and planning operations to optimize the use of the workforce and equipment.
- Handling of export cargo in accordance with the respective procedures.
- Managing the warehouse space. And Inventory, maintaining the FIFO method with fast and error-free delivery to airlines.
- Handling of all special cargo (DGR / AVI / VAL / Perishable/ sensitive) and recording as per IATA standards.
- Addressing customer service issues related to export cargo operations/terminal, and ensuring prompt responses to their complaints. Implementing customer service procedures to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Managing all aspects of the cargo operation with an emphasis on safety, security, quality, and control of expenses.
- Joining thoughts in the planning process to ensure a smooth operation flow.
Cargo Agent
Dulsco
01.2011 - 02.2012
- Worked as a direct-go crew, loading cargo and checking the pre-Build-Up list as per each destination.
- Served the Airline as a primary customer in building ULDs for their Passenger & Cargo Carriers, as per their instruction mentioned in the load plan, and taking safety measures for handling special cargo.
- Breaking down the import cargo and storing it in appropriate locations as per the manifest, transferring agency cargo, perishables, and explosives.
- Worked as a ramp staff member coordinating with the technical team for forwarding outbound cargo and receiving inbound cargo.
- Accepting the Shipment using the procedures of IDG and as per the airline rules and regulations.
- Forwarding all the export ULDs to the aircraft at an appropriate time as per the flight schedule given, forwarding import ULDs to the warehouse, and coordinating with the technical team.
- Inter Terminal Transfer - Transferring cargo within Airport Terminals
Education
Diploma in Ground Handling - Aviation
Edith Cowan University
Australia03-2023
Diploma in IATA/UFTAA Foundation And EBT Course - Aviation Management
Kannanthanam School of Tourism Studies
India03-2011
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting And Finance
Mahatma Gandhi University
India04-2010
Bachelor of Computer Science - Computer Programming
NIIT
India04-2010
Skills
- Effective communication
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Stress tolerance
- Quality assurance standards
- Warehouse operations proficiency
- Cargo handling expertise
- Decision-making capacity
- Customs regulations compliance
- Project management fundamentals
- Records management
- Team collaboration
- Active listening
Accomplishments
Guiding other colleagues as a super user for periodic upgrades of the SkyChain application and reporting bugs if found to the development team, and suggesting requirements at the time of upgrades for the operational needs
· Working with the SkyChain technical support team for bug fixing and reporting software glitches if found.
Certification
IATA Certified Aviation Internal Auditor.
Dangerous Goods Handling (Cat 6).
Languages
English
Hindi
Malayalam
Tamil
Timeline
Senior Cargo Operations Agent
Emirates Airlines
03.2024 - Current
Cargo Operations Agent - Management Support
Emirates Airlines
06.2023 - 02.2024
Cargo Operations Agent - Cargo Operations
Emirates Airlines
09.2014 - 05.2023
Cargo Operations Agent
DNATA CARGO, ERBIL AIRPORT, IRAQ
05.2013 - 06.2014
Cargo Agent
Dulsco
01.2011 - 02.2012
Diploma in Ground Handling - Aviation
Edith Cowan University
Diploma in IATA/UFTAA Foundation And EBT Course - Aviation Management
Kannanthanam School of Tourism Studies
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting And Finance
Mahatma Gandhi University
Bachelor of Computer Science - Computer Programming
NIIT