July 2020

Centurion Public Limited Company Monthly Newsletter

CENTURION AIR SERVICES & IMPACT OF COVID 19 Centurion Air is an aviation service provider offering ground handling from general aviation, co-operate to private ad-hoc flights, in addition to cargo, passenger & ambulance or any other required needs in the . Centurion Air is also the CSA for Singapore in the country.

According to the BDM of CTS Air, Ms. Shamaha Saeed, “Since border controls around the world were tightened due to the pandemic, Singapore Airlines reduced 96% percent of its capacity EFFECT OF PANDEMIC ON GLOBAL that had been scheduled till April 2020. As a result, our export AVIATION INDUSTRY cargo operations has been on halt since March 27th when the Maldives closed its borders, while on average we usually export Aviation industry has played a major role in every business since 50 – 60 MT per month. Similarly, several requests on flight its inception, however the global outbreak of COVID-19 has support services were cancelled during this period, though greatly effected the global industry, and operations had been we are again receiving more inquiries and looking forward to ceased for months. improve our business with the opening of the borders for commercial and private flights”. The fear is that, as a collapsed system is reconstituted, similar national self-interest will prevail. That is important because the aviation industry is about much more than airline health, it is crucial to global communications and trade.

World’s monthly global traffic statistics for January prove the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak had a rapid effect on passenger traffic, particularly in Asia-Pacific with a 1.8% decline recorded in January 2020 due to significant dfrop in domestic air traffic by 3.6% in the same region. The freight industry narrowed 4.4% in the first month of 2020 compared to 2019. ISSUE : JULY 2020 POST COVID SAFETY AT OFFICE BY DR. ABDUL AZEEZ YOOSUF - MBBS, FRCP CONSULTANT IN MEDICINE

With more than 30 million cases and half a million deaths globally, COVID-19 maybe the biggest pandemic to effect economy and human health in our lives. It is important that we all take our own responsibility to minimize the spread of the infection. Health Authorities all over the world advices three simple steps that each one of us can take.

Wear a mask when you go out of home.

Keep safe distance between two people. U.S CDC recommends 6ft distance while WHO recommends 3ft between two people.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially after touching contaminated surfaces when you are out of home.

While washing hands and keeping safe distance is simple and straight forward, people need to learn how to use mask safely for maximum safety. The main purpose of wearing masks outside home in the community is to protect others from your cough, sneeze or saliva that is spread when you talk. If you need to touch the mask while wearing remember to sanitize your hand.

After removing mask can be either washed or kept in sunlight if you want to reuse. However, do not leave the used mask on surfaces as it will spread the infection. Ideally mask should be washed at least 60 degrees’ centigrade water with detergent. Masks should be changed if it gets wet with sweat or saliva. A soiled mask once removed must be kept in a sealed bag till you go home and wash it.

There are other safety measures that employers can ensure for the staff. The work stations must be sufficiently spaced. If any staff is unwell due to cold or cough allow them to work from home for the safety of other staffs. It may be useful to stagger the timing of the staff in the office as to avoid overcrowding in the office.

Office should be ventilated well with fresh air circulation in and out. This will help reduce the concentration of the virus even if there an infected person in the office, thereby reducing the chance of infecting the others. All work surfaces and other surfaces like door handles must be appropriately cleaned and disinfected frequently.

Services should be designed in such a way that clients and outsiders do not have to enter the office. If they have to enter the office ensure thy wear a mask, sanitize their hands and spent minimum time in the office. Office or company productivity is to a large extent related to the health and fitness of the staff. If all these measures are taken the chances of staff falling ill will be minimized.

Available online, accessible 24/7 via myMSC, their official e-business solution, MSC’s Instant Quote complements the already existing and straightforward set of e-business tools from where customers can place and manage bookings, check vessel schedules, track shipments, access documents and get notifications – everything in one place.

Customers will simply have to log in to myMSC, submit their details and get a quote in seconds. Using the myMSC dashboard, they will be able to manage all their quotes and easily proceed to booking once they are ready. The Instant Quote function is MSC currently only available for shipping trade routes from North America to Europe and from Asia to Europe, with plans to further extend the service to other trades over the LAUNCHES course of 2020.

INSTANT It’s a clear illustration of MSC’s continuing efforts to invest in digital business QUOTE transformation with the aim of improving their services to customers. It means their customers can also generate a quote, then complete the booking through the usual method (email, INTTRA etc.), if it better suits them.

Benefits for customers are manifold and we invite you to visitwww.msc.com/ebusiness for more details.

CENTURION PLC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | WWW. CENTURION.MV ISSUE : JULY 2020 Please enlighten us on your successful career in the field of flight support services in the Maldives aviation industry so far? Industry I Joined in 1985, and served for more than 20 years as a government employee. During this period, I have worked in Ground Handling and other departments within the organization in Professional supervisory and managerial posts, for both Air Maldives and Island Aviation Services Ltd. Interview of I then worked at a private aviation company, doing Handling for Commercial Airlines and Private Jet Handling. I have always been interested to start my own business, so I started my own private business company and ran it for about 10 years mainly as the General Cargo Sales Agent (GSA) for and later on moved on to freight forwarding and other related businesses. In 2019, I got an opportunity to join Centurion Air. My current objective is to develop the company’s’ air segment and help Centurion Air reach new heights.

In your view, how has the Maldives aviation industry evolved over the past 20 years and what does the future hold for the industry in Maldives? In my point of view, the main turning point for the Maldives Aviation Industry was when Air Maldives declared bankruptcy nearly 2 decades ago. This resulted in distribution of sales to multiple local aviation sectors. As such, private companies began to enter the industry and engage in businesses such as Ground handling, Passenger and Cargo Sales Agents. Mr. Hussain Rasheed Head of Ground Operations - Centurion Air By opening of new domestic and international airports across the country and further enhancements being made to existing airports to the level and standard at Velana International Airport, I believe that aviation-related businesses will further develop and will be evenly distributed regionally.

Several companies in the aviation industry has been significantly As most of the local professionals working in flight support affected due to the pandemic, how has it impacted the aviation services are young adults, what message would you convey to service providers in the country, and especially Centurion Air? them being one of the few experienced local professionals in the The aviation industry has been the hardest hit industry due to the pandemic, flight support services of the Maldives aviation industry? It’s the case for not only Maldives, but it’s the case all around the globe. The aviation industry is very broad with a lot of opportunities. My message For Maldives, International borders were closed and on arrival visa was for the young generation is to set realistic targets, goals and decide where restricted due to the pandemic. As such international airline operations to you want to be in the future. Be consistent, and do your level best. Always Maldives came to a halt and this badly affected the whole country. For us, try and learn as much as you can on the job, follow your superiors’ at Centurion Air, we were heavily hit as our main businesses are Private Jet instructions, be focused and dedicated to do the assigned designated Handling and Air Cargo Export. tasks and always try to take initiative. In aviation industry, the main objective is to complete the assigned designated tasks in a given set time However, in the “New Normal”, we are looking to get back on track as our frame. Therefore, if you want to move forward in this industry, maintain borders have been reopened for tourism from July 15th onwards. Some punctuality in every aspect. airlines have announced plans to increase flights in the coming weeks and months as restrictions in the country are eased and similarly to us, other countries have also started to ease restrictions and open their borders. In my opinion, these developments are very promising signs for the aviation service providers in Maldives.

Elements of our Shared Value as a definition of effectiveness in leading challengingly within increased competitions and constant changes OUR of today and tomorrow, today’s article articulates about the second element of our shared value - Excellence.

SHARED Basically, it elaborates on the importance of understanding and VALUE determining where we are now, what we value more or most through roles and responsibilities and what we want to accomplish or achieve daily, weekly and monthly while linking with area of responsibility.

Each and every major function being the overall composition and structure of our entity, we always keep revitalizing overriding goals and objectives with specific key performance indicators encompassing purpose of existence in achieving outstanding outcomes and/or consequences. With underlying aim to be practical in ensuring customer delight through our customized customer service, or “Service That Smiles Back” that is unique and unequalled to the development of logistics and transportation industries of Maldives. As such, we commit ourselves to develop and define roles and responsibilities at three levels of management; top, tactical and operational fields delivering and endorsing “Service That Smiles Back” to all our stakeholders more effectively and more efficiently.

CENTURION PLC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | WWW. CENTURION.MV