Ahmed becomes first Maldivian aircraft engineer at Emirates

Emirates has announced the promotion of Ahmed Shaffaq of Malé as the airline’s Aircraft Engineer in the Maldives.

Shaffaq, 30, who joined the Dubai-based international airline as Senior Aircraft Mechanic in 2007, is the first Maldivian to be employed by Emirates in the Maldives as Aircraft Engineer.

On completion of his secondary and high secondary education at Majeediyyaa School and the Centre for High Secondary Education (CHSE) respectively, Shaffaq commenced basic training in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in 2005 at KLM UK Engineering, United Kingdom.

In 2007 he joined Island Aviation as a Mechanic and became a member of the Emirates Engineering team in Malé the same year. Completion of his UAE-GCAA License Module Examinations in 2012 earned him his Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence, and Shaffaq had his type training on Boeing 777 aircraft in 2014 at Emirates Engineering in Dubai.

“We are all very proud of Shaffaq and his progress at Emirates,” said Chandana de Silva, the Airline’s Area Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives. “Shaffaq is a good example of how the role Emirates plays as a global connector of people, places and aspirations extends beyond our passengers to employees as well.”

Darrell Soertsz, Emirates District Manager Maldives added: “Shaffaq’s dedication and outstanding performance have helped him to reach this significant milestone in his career.  We are delighted for him, especially because Shaffaq is known for his ability to meet a challenge head-on and his willingness to overcome problems through hard work and bringing the team together.”

Commenting on his promotion to Aircraft Engineer in the Maldives, Shaffaq, the father of a four year-old daughter, said: “Emirates is a great airline to work for because it provides opportunities for advancement to people of more than 135 nationalities.  There are no boundaries placed on us. The airline only demands the highest standards of professionalism, passion and commitment.”

Emirates launched services to Malé in May 1987, and has been serving the Maldives for more than 28 years. Over the past five years, Emirates has flown more than a million people on the Dubai – Malé route and more than 300,000 people on the Colombo – Malé sector, demonstrating the airline’s support of the Maldives’ economy.  Emirates currently operates triple-daily flights from Malé to Dubai and a daily flight from Malé to Colombo, linking the Maldivian archipelago with its global network of 144 destinations.

Ahmed Shaffaq, the first Maldivian Aircraft Engineer employed by Emirates in the Maldives, on the tarmac at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, Hulhulé