Building a Multilingual Team: Enhancing Global Operations in Aviation

Nasrin Qurashi, Director of HR & Legal at Dubai-based Aviation Services Management (ASM), highlights the critical importance of having a team skilled in multiple languages and cultures. This expertise is essential for managing expectations from aviation authorities and stakeholders across the globe.

The aviation industry is inherently global and diverse. Commercial airlines and private jets operate across borders and in different languages. As the industry evolves, effective communication and cultural understanding are becoming increasingly important.

Building a multilingual team is a key strategy for success in this dynamic environment. With over 25 years of experience, ASM has established strong relationships with international clients. Creating a multilingual team has played a significant role in maintaining this success.

In this context, I discuss the benefits and challenges of developing a multilingual workforce. This is particularly important for an organization based in the Middle East that works with clients around the world.

The Benefits of a Multilingual Team in Aviation

Enhanced Communication with Clients and Authorities:

A multilingual team allows us to communicate effectively with airport authorities and diverse airline clients worldwide. This ability helps reduce misunderstandings and ensures smoother interactions. As a result, we can deliver services more quickly and accurately

Efficient Global Operations:

Clear communication is crucial in aviation, where safety and efficiency depend on precise instructions. A multilingual team ensures that language barriers do not hinder operations. This applies to interactions with international partners, communication with a diverse workforce, and providing services to passengers from across the globe.

Putting multilingual coordination into practice

Language capability is most useful when it supports a clear operational record. In flight support, ask each party to confirm the aircraft registration, airport, operating date and time basis, rather than relying on an informal conversation alone. Preserve the original request and record the agreed response so another team member can follow the decision.

For a shift handover, identify confirmed arrangements, pending questions, the responsible contact and the next action. If a translated message is ambiguous, return to the sender for clarification before presenting it as an accepted instruction. Language support complements the operator’s procedures and the requirements of the relevant authority or service provider.

These checks are particularly useful when coordinating international permit applications, crew accommodation and passenger concierge requests. Each involves different parties who need the same current itinerary but may require different supporting information.

For passenger and crew arrangements, record practical preferences explicitly: the meeting point, luggage needs, room access times or requested assistance. Ask the local provider to acknowledge what can be delivered and any limitations. This gives the next team member a usable confirmation instead of an assumption based on a translated phrase.

Discuss flight support or charter requirements

For international flight support, fuel or supervision enquiries, contact sales@asm.aero with the route, aircraft details and schedule.

For private charter enquiries, contact charter@asm.aero with your itinerary, passenger count and travel preferences.