Cabin Crew Fair 2021 Calls for Improved Empathy, Attitude
THE need for cabin crew to urgently adapt to new trends and challenges took the centre stage at the just concluded Cabin Crew Fair 2021 in Lagos.
With the Covid pandemic, speakers at the event emphasised that, the cabin crew must be ready to make the necessary adjustments as regards dressing and attending to passengers.
Participants also agreed that there were lots of opportunities for them with the emergence of new airlines and aircraft acquisitions.
Speaking on the theme: The Evolving Cabin Crew Profession , Then and Now”, President, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Nwuba said the cabin crew apart from playing their major duties of ensuring passenger safety onboard the aircraft and during emergencies, had to do more in showing empathy.
According to him, cabin crew as an interface between the airline and passengers, have the duties of reassuring the passengers that they were in good hands onboard and to do all they can to give passengers a good travel experience that would make them want to fly again maybe with their airline.
Nwuba while saying a lot was being done in terms of technology especially in the use of robots instead of humans to attend to passengers, however declared that as good as it may be, the cabin crew will always be in the cabin.
“You can imagine what robots would do to passengers if they refuse their order, they don’t have feelings, they can’t empathize with you but the cabin crew does”.
In her opening remarks, organiSer of the fair, Mamaj Aviation Academy, Ms. Joy Ogbebo noted that, with the COVID-19, cabin attendants must up their game as smart people in their appearance, attitude and in other areas.
Describing the role that cabin attendants play in the safety value chain as critical, Ogbebo said this had become more critical with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pioneer President National Cabin Crew Association of Nigeria (NACCAN), Mr Olumide Ohunayo who walked down memory lane to highlight the struggle to form the association for the sake of being certified and licensed urged them to revive the moribund association.
He stated that, reviving the association would help to emphasise the critical roles the attendants play in safety.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman, Airport Business Summit and NIGAV Centre, Mr . Fortune Idu said, the role played by the cabin attendants was often not mentioned and because they had been relegated in the safety value chain, many saw them as those responsible for only serving tea and coffee onboard the aircraft.
According to him, because of their critical role, the Nigeria Aviation Award (NIGAV) organiser put in place an award for the King and the Queen of the Air where cabin attendants from different airlines are expected to compete to be crowned and win cash award.
His words: “Apart from boosting passenger satisfaction and security on board airplanes, cabin attendants handle unruly and violent passengers, Cabin crew are a very important part of the passenger experience.”
The Fair drew cabin attendants from all the domestic airlines, including from the private service charter and prospective cabin attendants.
Former Aviation Minister Calls for More Funding, Training of Air Personnel
A former minister of Aviation, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Okpere (retired) has called for more funding of facilities and training of personnel to further enhance safety in the sector.
Speaking in Abuja at the just concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Association of Air traffic Communicators (NACAN), AVM Okpere who was the chairman of the occasion, while reacting to the issue of shortage of personnel in the aviation industry, noted that except the gap in the sector between those retiring and serving personnel was bridged, the industry may soon start experiencing problems.
His words: “The job they are doing is so important, except we find a way to bridge that gap, we will soon have problems. We talk about modern means of communications, except we spend money, the lives of people and the industry is in danger”.
The former minister who noted that the air traffic communicators were doing very important job, however emphasized the need for them to be encouraged by providing them with necessary working tools and trainings.
Citing how in 1988, ground to ground communication was recognised in the air space, Okpere added that without adequate ground to ground communications that fell in line with modern ways of doing things, that the country can not go anywhere.
The AVM who recalled how he was appointed minister of aviation after it was carved out of the transport ministry, lamented that no minister that came after him has been able to consult him for clarifications on certain issues in the ministry.
“The people I handed over to, tried to do their best but there were a lot of problems because there were certain things they did not understand. Being not aviators and not conversant with rules and regulations of aviation and no minister since then ever invited me to come to the ministry to explain the rationale behind any of the decisions taken.
“I decided to stay quietly on my own because you don’t pour water on the back of a stone, it doesn’t sink. My opinion does not matter, so, I keep myself shut”.
AVM Okpere also recalled in 1987 how the ministry took off with only three staff after he drafted the Decree that set up the various agencies in the sector that gave rise to the then Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA).
He lamented that everybody has become expert in the industry especially when there was plane crash which he said had not augured well for the industry.
Emirates Promises Superior Services As It Resumes Flights to Nigeria
EMIRATES airlines has finally recommended operations into Nigeria after almost one year of withdrawing its services on the Dubai/Nigerian route.
Emirates touched down in both Abuja and Lagos on Sunday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos thus marking the restart of daily services to Nigeria from Dubai.
Both flights from Dubai, EK 785 to Abuja and EK 783 to Lagos, were welcomed to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport with water cannon salutes, with a cake cutting ceremony held between Emirates officials and the airport authorities to mark the resumption of operations.
Speaking at the event, Emirates Country Manager in Nigeria, Paulos Legesse said: “We are delighted to resume operations to and from Nigeria, and are pleased to see strong interest from our customers, reflected in robust forward bookings from the time of our announcement, as well as today’s full flights from Dubai to Abuja and Lagos. The services will also give our customers the opportunity once again to safely experience Emirates’ superior product and service, offering them convenient travel options to Dubai, an already popular destination for Nigerian travellers, as well as seamless connectivity with other key cities across our network.”
The airline declared that the aircraft being deployed to both Nigerian cities is the three class Boeing 777-300ER which offers 8 luxurious First Class suites, 42 generous Business Class seats, and over 300 seats in Economy Class.
Customers across all classes were able to enjoy the airline’s regional delicacies onboard, as well as its renowned in-flight entertainment system, ice, featuring over 4,500 channels of on-demand entertainment, including Nollywood films and content.
Emirates operates to Abuja with EK 785 and 786. EK 785 departs Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 takes off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day. Emirates flight EK 783 to Lagos departs Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1540hrs. The return flight EK 784 departs Lagos at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0415hrs the next day.
According to the airline, to ensure the safety of travelers, visitors, and the community, “Covid-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound passengers arriving to Dubai, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from. Travelers coming from Nigeria must hold a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
“Additionally, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has specified designated laboratories for passengers departing Nigeria and travelers must obtain their certificate from one of the labs listed to be accepted on the flight. Travelers coming from Nigeria will also need to take another Covid-19 PCR test on arrival at Dubai International Airport.” Read more
Airbus Leads KLM Narrow-Body Race in Bid to Oust Boeing
Airbus SE is closing in on a deal to supply Dutch airline KLM with single-aisle jets, unseating incumbent Boeing Co., according to people familiar with the matter.
The planemakers are competing on an order for as many as 160 aircraft for KLM and low-cost carrier Transavia, as parent Air France-KLM refreshes the brands’ medium-haul fleets.
The contest remains in flux, with Boeing’s 737 Max still in contention for the KLM part and Transavia up for grabs, said the people, who asked not to be named with talks still under way. A decision could be reached as soon as this week, the people said. Reuters reported earlier that KLM was leaning toward the Airbus A321.
No decision has been made, an Air France-KLM representative said. Airbus and Boeing declined to comment.
Wrestling away KLM would be a coup for Airbus. The European planemaker has had only limited success snatching customers from Boeing despite two Max crashes that triggered a two-year grounding and design revisions. A large order from Air France-KLM would also help Airbus build the case for a planned acceleration of narrow-body production that’s been met with resistance from suppliers who question whether there’s enough demand.
While both KLM and Transavia currently fly 737s, Air France-KLM said in September that the purchase, covering 80 firm orders and another 60-80 options, could be split.
One selling point for the A321, the largest jet in the A320neo family, is its capacity to seat upwards of 230 passengers with better range than Boeing can match. The extra seats would allow KLM to bring more people in and out of Amsterdam while accommodating tight limitations at Schiphol airport.
The A321 helped Airbus nab U.K. leisure carrier Jet2 Plc, formerly a Boeing customer, earlier in the year, and secure a bumper 255-jet deal with a group of four discount airlines backed by Bill Franke’s Indigo Partners last month at the Dubai Airshow.
Still, Boeing has used the Max’s comeback to build a lead in the order race between the two planemakers this year.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire last year called on Air France to be a good customer for Airbus after the state bailed out the carrier and is now its biggest shareholder with a 29% stake.
Sources: Tribune Online; Bloomberg