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Well above projections
M. ZOUHAIR M. EL AOUFIR, AIR SENEGAL INTERNATIONAL Managing Director
Zouhair Mohamed El Aoufir can be proud. Air Senegal International (ASI) transported 124,000 travellers in 2001, with a turnover of 11 billion CFA francs (around 17 million Euros), which is more than half again of the projected figure. And the network will be reinforced in 2002, with the opening of the Dakar-Paris air route and the launching of a direct flight to New-York, if the first operation is successful. The priority will be to develop business customers loyalty.
Mohamed El Aoufir, a Moroccan, who has previously worked with Royal air Maroc, and is currently ASI main shareholder, has worked for RAM for 12 years. Married and thefather of three children, this 37 year old engineer has brought his family to Dakar, where his wife teaches management control. An expert in mechanical manufacturing, and holding a Masters in aeronautical maintenance obtained at Ensica, in Toulouse, he also graduated from the Mohammedia School of Engineers, in Rabat. He has worked at the RAM industrial centre, where he was in charge of maintenance, in cooperation with the commercial department. He has gained much experience from this, which accounts for his mastery of air transport issues.
The post of Managing Director indeed required such versatility, and immense discipline, for operational matters, a facility with commercial matters, distribution and, logistics, as well as certain management skills, while remaining professional. In a word, he was the right person. His last project was the Pilgrimage to Mecca, with around 10,000 seats available, for which a Boeing 747 was specially chartered. The aim was to realize 40% of the annual turnover ; it also enabled managers to test staff productivity.
The next step will be the Paris route, in April, in order to confirm the ASI trademark on medium-haul flights, before the launching of international flights. RAM's managers have also set a third target, with the creation of two new units in Dakar - an investment estimated at $2 million-, which will employ around a hundred people, to provide ground assistance and improve on-board services. The programme includes the training of Boeing pilots in France and Canada, of technical air crew, as well as on-board flight attendants.
X.O.
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