KQ LOUNGES 101: Experience the Kenya Airways Lounges • DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP Sustainability Inflight•INSIDE:CABIN CREW DIARIES Up close with two of our onboard leaders TAKE OFF INFLIGHT NEWSLETTER THE ISSUE 002 SEPTEMBER 2022
The team continues to work in sync with improvements arising every other day. At this juncture and on behalf of this great organization, kindly allow me to thank you for
“The focus is continuous improvement to make Inflight and Catering the Star she has always been. “
1 Greetings Team Members, This copy is our second issue of the Inflight Newsletter, and we are glad that the excitement of this issue is still fresh in the air. We did take a step back to allow for this nascent publication to become a vibrant quarterly issue.
the fantastic job you do in handling our guests. I can state without fear of contradiction you are the reason we have seen a significant growth in our passenger numbers, keep it up! The feedback we now receive goes directly to the relevant stakeholders with the managers at Huduma Centre having back-end visibility to tell usability from the cabin leaders. To this end there should be no excuse in giving our Finally,best.
SERVICESINFLIGHTHEADFROMMESSAGETHEOF CATERING (HOISC)
This last quarter has seen us grow as a department with additional work force in leadership, the crew centre and the cabin. At the Huduma Centre we were joined by service instructor Eva Ndikwe, now an Inflight Performance Manager with Emily Karimere leaving cabin crew to join Huduma Centre as a Crew Administrator. We also saw over 150 cabin crew members rehired into the Cabin. In cluster four (Catering), Miriam Njoki joined as Catering Operations Manager. With all these hands, our work has become easier releasing fresh energy into our wings. The challenges that were most disconcerting from the many reports shared by our cabin leaders were on a lack of dutyfree products as well as nil stocks on several amenities and bar items. We have embarked on daily and weekly meetings with our stakeholders to ensure we have sufficient stocks of all products on board; we are not yet there due to the production challenges in China; we have however started engaging alternative suppliers. There was also an initial challenge on workload which has been greatly improved due to the rehired team members.
AND
Sincerely, Pauline Kihara Head of Inflight Services & Catering
we have experienced CMS challenges. These all due to upgrading hiccups which are dealt with on a caseby-case basis. The general challenges affecting many cabin leaders were tackled through the upgrading as guided by our in-house experts. Kudos to all of us, let us purpose to hold the new members by hand as we reignite the Pride from Inflight and Catering. Thank you.
2 KQ LOUNGES 101: You have been globetrotting between cities within the continent with no time to rest within the flights. There is nothing that will scream KARIBU and THANK YOU like the KQ lounges. The lounges designed with the African landscapes in mind, promise to provide comfort and exclusivity in a serene ambiance.
Kenya Airways has three lounges at International Departures in Nairobi, namely, Pride and Simba 1A lounges in Terminal 1A and Simba 1C (Under renovation) in Terminal 1C and Msafiri The inspiration for the Pride and Simba lounges is a celebration of the enticing and alluring African landscapes from the tranquillity of the savannah with its unending grasslands, the lush and vibrant rainforests, the calmness and charm of the coast and the mystical deserts. The lounges promise to offer our guest a glimpse of Africa and our true Pride as Kenya Airways. Next time you are flying through Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, experience our lounges with an account setback of 40 dollars.
Kenya Airways has three lounges at International Departures in Nairobi, namely, Pride and Simba 1A lounges in Terminal 1A and Simba 1C in Terminal 1C. INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE LOUNGES The Pride lounge is our largest lounge with a wide variety of different sections with magnificent ambience and comfort to our guests. It screams Africa from the moment you walk in. It is located on the second floor of T1A. Guests take the lift to the second floor next to gate 17. It has a seating capacity of 225 Pax THE PRIDE LOUNGE Areas of the Lounge: 1. Family Area 2. Formal Business Area 3. Dining areas 4. Napping area 5. Smoking room Lounge Amenities Include: 1. Unlimited Free Wi-Fi 2. Complimentary hot meals 3. Hot Showers 4. Variety of food and beverages. SIMBA LOUNGE Simba Lounge is situated at level 2. Guests take the lift near Dufry Duty Free Shop. The most prominent feature in this lounge being the “melting pot”, or the “Manyatta” resonant of the Maasai hut. This iconic feature speaks of the African spirit of community and sharing where the indigenous people would meet at the fireside chat and tell stories of yore. It has a seating capacity of 50 pax Areas of the Lounge: 1. Family Area 2. Formal Business Area 3. Dining Areas 4. VVIP - The space is built to offer secluded privacy Lounge Amenities: 1. Comfortable Seating 2. Food and Beverage 3. Free Fast Wi-Fi
Msafiri Lounge Amenities: • Unlimited Free Wi-Fi • Variety of snacks/ Fruits • Variety of Beverages Msafiri Lounge is the Kenya Airways lounge at the domestic terminal situated near gate1. The lounge has a capacity of 32 pax. DOMESTIC DEPARTURE LOUNGE KQ LOUNGES SIDE BAR Eligibility of Access in Pride and Simba Lounge. 1. Business Class Passenger 2. SkyTeam Platinum and Card holders (Can invite one guest travelling on a SkyTeam airline) 3. A separate arrangement is provided for other third-party airlines (Customer Airlines) for their business class and Card holders. 4. Economy class passengers of all Airlines who may require accessing the lounge may do so at a fee for a duration of 8 hours. a) Adults - @USD 40 b) Children 2-12 years - @USD 20 c) Active KQ Staff - @USD 25 d) Infants 0-2 years - Free 5. KQ’s JC & ELIP passengers can access contracted lounges in outstations Kenya Airways Passengers access contracted lounges outstations with access for Business Class passengers and Flying blue Elite passengers. Lounge Benefits 1. Serene and comfortable environment 2. One stop shop for guests where all their ticketing, reservations, baggage, and any other issues are addressed at the comfort of their seats. 3. Recognition and priority treatment during flight disruptions. 4. Speedy resolution of complaints. 5. Provides an opportunity to network with other business travelers.
As part of the challenge and to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable aviation, we flew our environmentally sustainable B787800 Dreamliner flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam. The challenge flight took place on Saturday, 14th May 2022. Our participation focussed on environmental conservation. We worked closely with other partners, suppliers, and guests across the customer journey to support the reduction of carbon emissions during this flight. So, what did we do Inflight to protect our planet and support sustainability?
Guests on board were served with carefully selected Eco-friendly menu prepared in collaboration with our catering partner, NAS. The ingredients for the meals were sourced from local Kenyan farmers who specialise in growing organic vegetables and fruits, supplemented with fresh herbs from NAS’s own in-house green house.
SUSTAINABILITY INFLIGHT
Sustainable Catering: Together with our partner NAS Servair (NAS) we won “The Best Partnership” as part of The Sustainable Flight Challenge (TSFC) that brought together 16 SkyTeam Alliance member airlines. With the recent global focus on climate change, it’s more important than ever to think about sustainability in the aviation industry.
Inflight Actively Participates in the Sustainable Flight Challenge
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DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP
Inflight Amenities:
Cabin amenities were all made from eco-friendly recyclable materials with a focus on reducing single-use plastics.
CONT...
Waste Participation:CustomerManagement:
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The business class blankets were produced from plastic bottles by The Megh Group who recycle plastic bottles and convert them into textiles. Other items included headset covers made from reusable fabric, biodegradable eco-friendly paper cups and light weight stainless steel cutlery in the Economy Class.
Passengers participated in offsetting CO2 emissions through the Voluntary Carbon Offsetting tool. Guests were also encouraged to travel light. This was in line with the weight reduction objective to reduce fuel consumption leading to low carbon emissions.
SUSTAINABILITY INFLIGHT
We put together a waste sorting plan to reduce waste onboard. Through better planning, we were able to identify items that could be recycled. This flight was a minimalwaste one, except for the safety, health and hygiene items that were single-use.
7 ROUNDUPNEWSDEPARTMENTAL
guests on the flight were invited to join the airline in demonstrating the Airline’s commitment towards sustainable aviation by encouraging them to offset their carbon emissions and to travel light. Participating airlines were judged across 14 categories by a panel of international judges from sustainability and aviation sectors on how best the flights were sustainable.
Equality.Finally,
The flight was assigned crew complement with a gender balance of 50/50 representation. This was in line with the call to improve female representation by 25% or achieve 25% gender diversity in leadership position by 2025 aligned with IATA 25 by 2025, in support of UN SDG 5 – Gender
Q1 AND Q2 Cabin Safety Update
• Nonprocedural compliance regarding equipment checks has also been handled with one leading to flight cancellation outstation.
Preliminary investigations as to the root cause, point a finger to complacency within the teams. The two incidents have come at a great cost to the company shining a negative light on us. We therefore need to seriously nip this in the bud before the same results into an accident
• We have equally shared and emphasized on our reporting culture through cabin safety reports that are comprehensive with the addition of attested witness reports by CCMs involved in support of our legal teams.
a) Passenger and Cabin Injuries
Every action taken in the line of duty has a safety SOP attached to it. It is therefore imperative that we keep ourselves abreast on our Safety and Emergency Procedures as documented in CCMM V8 and abide by them on a day-to-day basis as we go along interacting with our internal and external stakeholders. In the first two quarters of the year, below safety occurrences have been documented coming through the cabin:
• We have been able to address this through communication to you regarding the service of hot liquids on board. We have gone a step further and introduced new paper cups that we hope will go a long way in helping reduce these incidents.
b) Inadvertent slide deployment and emergency equipment procedures
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• Through your reporting, technical can track issues to do with defective tables for closure.
• We have since handled two incidents of non-procedural compliance regarding door arming and disarming procedures, one resulting into a slide deployment and the other a near miss
GALIOT REPORTING SYSTEM
We would like to encourage you to be reporting hazards and any other reportable incidents through Galiot reporting system. You can also use the Cabin Safety Reporting forms or report through Flight.safety@kenya-airways.com and Safety Hotline 0741777088.
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP
Safety is and remains our license to operate. All efforts to reignite and realign the business back into profitability can come to a halt, should our safety record be compromised. As CCMs you are one of our biggest drivers of the safety culture in the entire Whyorganization.dowesay
so? Cabin Crew Members embody the safety culture of an airline. The training we go through as safety officers and the professionalism, with which we adhere to SOPs in the line of service delivery, needs to be distinguished as the singular overriding driver in everything that we do.
ROUNDUPNEWSDEPARTMENTAL INFLIGHT EMBRACE
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QUOTE REMEMBERTO
The boy child has wrestled with alcoholism and financial challenges where the girl child has battled relationship issues. This is a general picture in terms of percentages but mental health issues respect not the gender card.
The calendar this year has seen several talks well covered to heal scars and inject new hope in the team. The remainder of the year comes with more talks. The recovery of a single colleague is the recovery of a generation, we applaud the many who have reached out to seek help. Indeed, whoever asks, receives. As we celebrate the scores, we also belabour the challenges of the few that return to the mire, testing the passion of the partners. For all round wellness, reach out to an Embracer today or better still purpose to embrace someone today! Outside health starts from the inside. GROUP - FOOTSTEPS OF HOPE
The mantle of confidentiality that Embracers have managed to uphold has limited cases coming all the way for attention. The Partners have managed to turn debriefs into therapy sessions across the globe and this has whetted the appetite of Flight deck colleagues as well as ground in starting a similar venture. A hearty appreciation goes out to the Embracers who have achieved a lot even as they too were embraced by other Therapists.
It is drawing to a year since the Inflight Embrace program was launched. The aahs and oohs of admiration were not drowned by the pregnant expectations from the cabin and yonder. This past year has put footsteps of hope in the sands of our time. A reflection of this walk fills the department with Pride. Those we would have lost to the vagaries of mental health and substance abuse were realigned with the embrace of care and support; the challenges that came our way approached us as drippings of wisdom. In a nutshell we have grown in the outside from the inside.
A cross section of Inflight and catering team who attended the Embrace leadership training. bird that flies off the Earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground.” African Proverb –
“A
10 FAREWELL TO
We held a farewell ceremony in honour of two of our crew members-Patrick Maliga and Virginia Macharia. The duo hang their boots as flight pursers having served for close to two decades to cross over to our training arm-KQ Academy under Safety & Emergency Procedure training. This is a true testament that there is immense talent within inflight and all are encouraged to tap in and spread our wings wider and develop our Thecareers.event that took place at the Crew Centre saw colleagues from operations congratulate and wish them well in their next challenge. In attendance was the Head of Inflight Services & Catering -Pauline Kihara, and Manager Inflight Training & Standards- Tabitha Mangondu. Other team members present included Inflight Managers, flight deck crew Captain Moses Karanja and FO Louisa Imbuga and some of our inflight team Wemembers.wishthem well in their next assignment.
VIRGINIA MACHARIA & PATRICK MALIGA
11 AVIATORS OF HOPE
Love Expressed Through Giving Aviators of Hope is an initiative that was birthed in March 2017 following a severe drought in Turkana aiming to reach out in charity. Members are mainly drawn from Inflight and a few others from Ground Services. Currently, their numbers stand at 51. The group has been involved in several projects. Among their reach out activities include: • A visit to several children’s homes including children with special needs. Kenyatta National hospital preterm babies ward and cancer children’s ward. They are also involved in feeding programmes for the vulnerable families as well as street families. The team also run the Hope to Fly Program, which is a motivational drive inspiring the young to reach out for their dreams and visions in life. Recently, the team full filled a promise they made to children’s home in Rongai, to treat the best performing students as a motivation. The team Sponsored Peter Maina and Samuel Mbuthia on a return trip to Mombasa. With an average Monthly contribution of about Ksh 40,000, the group has given out more than Ksh 450,000 annually with exception of Covid-19 affected year 2020 to 2021.
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HORIZONBEYONDWITHINOPPORTUNITIESANDTHE
“In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity” (Albert Einstein). The Covid pandemic presented a perfect example of a crisis laden with opportunities. We can all attest that indeed, we have all been pushed to look for the silver lining within and beyond the Ascrisis.an airline we have had to tap into the emerging opportunities, one being the concept of Charters. Inflight finds itself in a unique position to help market, sustain and grow the charter business. Being at the tail end and implementers of what has been meticulously put together behind the scenes is you our cabin colleagues of whom we are proud of. Team selection and service delivery is critical in projecting the company in good standing while at the same time being a value addition on the already expensive venture for our distinguished guests. We are proud of your professionalism in service delivery the results of which have enabled us seal repeat business from some of our clients. Below are memories coming in from one such charter, successfully undertaken.TheCovid a
AVIATION FUN FACTS
The aviation sector is quite fascinating. It is an industry full of unbelievable facts. In this section, we shall unravel some of the aviation facts about airlines, airports, or simply traveling. Stay tuned for amazing aviation facts. Let’s have fun while at it! waterOver1.5litresofyourbody’swaterislosteachlong-haulflight,Soremembertodrinklotsofwhenflying!
Omanyala poses with our crew after he landed from the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius.
CELEBRITIES NOT LEFT BEHIND At the Pride of Africa, we are extremely proud of our sports men. In this past quarter, we were honoured to bring home some of our celebrated sportsmen.
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Special Guest - Tarrus Riley. Thank you for choosing #ThePrideOfAfrica. Angella Okutoyi, the first Kenyan to win a #Wimbledon title.
• Uplift of products to ensure well stocked trolleys. We look forward with great optimism, that together we will maintain this positive buzz in the cabin created by this catalogue to maintain the growth momentum in the upcoming peak season months. We hope with your support we will plough back on some of the losses realized in the previous months. and more.
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TOP 10 Sellers in May 2022- Dennis Akuteye; Albertina Gborgblovor; Susan MankahKkeng; Pauline Wanjiru Gitonga Susan Nyambura Kariuki;Jjavan Bala Kunga;Claire Ngo Mbock; Clara Madil; Paul Edward Bennet; George Ouma Nyakako
Allow us to commend our colleagues below for emerging as top sellers in the listed months, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
DUTY FREE UPDATE
Top 10 Sellers in June 2022 – Dennis Akuteye; Juliet Muhonja Akila; Cynthia Nyansarora Ombasa;Elorm Amenu; Claire Ngo Mbock; Gertrude Mokeira Lwanga; Pauline Wanjiru Gitonga;Susan Mankah Keng; Philip Chacha Nyamosi
The business through inflight sales broke even and realized a 100% return in revenues of USD445,260 in the month of May. This was by no mean fit, behind the scenes we have burnt the midnight oil to ensure:
Coming in from depressed duty-free revenues in Q1 and beyond, we are glad to celebrate with you the millstone breakthrough that came in the month of May and growing. We are glad to share with you that our collective efforts did not go in vain and finally paid off after many difficult months.
Top 10 Seller in April 2022 - Kwame Awoonor; Susan Nyambura Kariuki; Josephine Wanjiku Gichuki; Philip Chacha Nyamosi; Juliet Muhonja Akila; Maxwell Chopdekar; Jafar Rashid; Elorm Amenu; Claire Ngo Mbock; Pauline Wanjiru Gitonga.
• A new season catalogues is launched. • Product selection for the catalogue. • Cabin crew sensitization through duty free roadshow.
We held a successful duty-free road show in May for two weeks to launch the new duty-free catalogue, thank you all for participating. The next road show is coming in October. Look out for that!
I love watching movies, football (Man U), mentoring, CSR (I am in line to be my rotary club’s president next year) andmostimportantlyspendingqualitytimewithmywifeandkids.
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WherepossibleIcallhomeandwithadvancementintech-nologyovertheyears,Idovideocalls.Ihaveintention-allymadeitapointtobeavailableforallspecialfamilyoccasionswheneverI’mableto.
IjoinedKQon12thAugust2002fromCo-operativeBankwhereIwasservingasagraduateclerk.
What is your hobby? What do you do when you are not flying?
As a crew member, what are things you can’t travel without?
Real Life Cabin Crew Advice! KYENGO- FLIGHT PURSER
What inspired your passion for aviation?
How do you compensate for the time you are away from family?
Imustsayithashaditshighsandlowsbutmoreofhighs.IhavegrownintothemanIamwhileinKQ.MostsignificantlyitisinKQwhereImettheloveofmylifeandthemothertomythreeadorablechildren.IjoinedasaFlightAttendantrosetomycurrentpositionofFlightPurserwhichIhaveheldsinceJuly2010.
Most
Mobile Phone–Forkeepingintouchwithfriendsand familywhileaway. • Gadget Bag – It contains my chargers, adaptor and noisecancellationheadphones. • My Laptop – Watching movies and doing any other work(EVR,researchwork,meetings).
We recently caught up with our Flight Pursers Santo Kyengo and Audrey Madaga who gladly shared their journeys with us. What it has been like working for KQ and their experiences as Flight Pursers.nologyovertheyears,Idovideocalls.Ihaveintention-allymadeitapointtobeavailableforallspecialfamilyoccasionswheneverI’mableto. Gadget SANTO
My parents. They both were in East African Airways plus deep waydownIhadalwayswantedtotraveltheworldandwhatbettertodothisbyhavingjobthatenablesyoutotraveldaily.
Share with us a brief background. How did it all begin?
How has the journey been?
practical piece of advice for those wanting to be Flight Pursers Leadership is about making others better because of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in yourabsence. CABIN CREW DIARIES
Myparents.MydadwasaflightcrewandmumagroundstaffduringEAtillKQtimes.Dadhadaviationliteraturearound,showedusdifferentairlines,differentairportequipment.Dadwouldtellusaboutthedifferentdestinationsthathehadbeento.Thisgotmehookeduponflying.
Quick
IjoinedKQinMay2000.Ithasbeenaninterestingjourneymeetingnewpeople,samplingculturesandvisitingdifferentcities. What inspired your passion for aviation?
Fire • Long Haul or Short haul - long haul • Best Destination? - Accra • Best Meal – Sea Food • Beach or Safari - Both
Tell us about your most memorable flight
AUDREY MADAGA – FLIGHT PURSER Share with us a brief background. How did it all begin?
What do you do when you are not flying?
I love arts. I love, drawing, colouring. I also enjoy catching up with family or babysittingmynieceandnephewswheneverIcan.Familyiseverything.
IhavedoneafewVVIPflights,andIfindthemquiteinteresting,challenging,andamazingatthesametime.It’sanopportunityIdonottakeforgranted.
Who motivates you?
My family, especially my late mum. She was a hard worker, determined and a quitepleasant. Asacareerwoman,itwasamazinghowshejuggledbothcareer andfamily. Igetalotofinspirationfromher.
If you were not a Flight Purser, which other career do you think you’d have done? GrowingupIwantedtobealawyer.Ithink,Iwouldhavemadeanhonestlawyer. Most practical piece of advice for those wanting to be Flight Pursers. Goforitdespitethechallenges,itisworthit!Keepingongoing.
EMILY KARIMERE - Crew
Eva Ndikwe has been appointed to the role of Inflight Performance Manager effective 1st April 2022. She joins us from the KQ Inflight Training School, where she was an Inflight Service Trainer responsible for training Cabin Crew both Internal and external on Inflight Service, etiquette, and leadership. She also has been responsible for training the PrideStar-Cabin Crew Program.
Eva joined Kenya Airways as an Inflight Attendant and was thereafter promoted to Flight Purser, a role she performed for ten years before moving to the Inflight Training school. She is a passionate Customer Service professional and has over twenty (20) years of experience.
We are excited to continue to grow our incredible team with the addition of IPM Eva Ndikwe; Miriam Njoki Emily Karimere and the rehired crew. Kindly join us in welcoming the new team members into the Inflight Family.
Eva enjoys hiking, is an avid reader and a writer of short stories and poems. She is also a pastor at her local assembly. In her free time, she enjoys public speaking, community work/self- help Women’s’ groups and supporting disadvantaged children.
Emily Karimere has been appointed to the role of Cabin Crew Administrator effective 1st April 2022. She has been a member of the inflight team since her appointment as an Inflight Attendant in 2011, a role she has executed with great passion and enthusiasm.
Emily holds a degree in Criminal Justice and Security Management from African Nazarene University, an academic venture inspired for her passion in safety and security. She is also in the process of acquiring a master’s degree at Daystar University.
THE REHIRED CREW
Emily enjoys reading, writing, travelling, and swimming. Miriam has been appointed to the role of Catering Operations Manager effective 4th May2022. Miriam has over 10 years of experience in the hotel industry with the privilege to work in top 5-star international hotel chains in Nairobi in the food and beverage department. She holds a master’s degree (MBA) in strategic management from Kenyatta University. A degree in BSc Hospitality and Tourism Management from K.U and is also an instructor training parts 1&2 – Kenya Her hobbies include, Travelling, Hiking, mentoring young industry professionals, Mixology, Collecting wines.
EVA NDIKWE - Inflight Performance Manager
She holds a master’s degree from the University of Leicester- UK, a Degree from University of South Africa-Pretoria, IATA certificates in Instructional design &Instructional Techniques, Aviation Internal Auditor, Diploma in Tours and travel and French.
INFLIGHT WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBERS
AdministratorMIRIAMNJOKI
We welcome all our rehired cabin crewmembers. The numbers have helped with flight coverage as the network keeps growing. Let’s support them as well as guide as they settle in.
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NDUNG’U - Catering Operations Manager
DEMYSTIFYING MOTHERHOOD AS A CABIN CREW
How I compensate for times I’m away
• Video calls, WhatsApp chats when I’m away from home.
Finally,available.my advice to flying mothers is that children are very resilient! It does not take long for a child to better understand the situation and then they are able to look forward to your return.
Until your child is of the age where this is a case, you can be creative, e.g., Share with them interesting photos of your travels, stories about where you have been and chats about where your child would like to visit, you never know these chats may start a desire to be Cabin Crew when they are older! With technology, skype, facetime, messenger you can find lots of ways to stay connected with your child however great the distance between you. And of course, gifts can work wonders! “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”Sophia Loren
The part I love most about my job …. You get to travel the world and visit historic sites and stay in luxuries hotels at no cost. My job allows me to interact with different cultures, races & enjoy multiple cuisines in 5star hotels. If I were to compare my routine to an 8-5 pm mum, I get to spend more quality time with my children than quantity. Meaning roster/shift pattern has its positive side. I’m able to travel with my children at subsidized ticket prices and this makes them more exposed to travels. I’m also able to purchase unique gifts for them. Like every good thing, there are a few challenges… The one I have struggled with most is missing key milestones like birthdays, or planned family vacations and special holidays to school functions. I have however, learnt to compensate for the lost times. I constantly have the need to overcompensate for my absence from home. Then there are days I am away on a longhaul duty and my child is unwell. In such cases, I will rely mostly on family to step in. Having a supportive family is something I appreciate and don’t take for granted.
Being a working mom is never easy. Juggling a full-time job with its pressures and a family can take a toll on your work-life balance. When some things fall through the cracks you might find yourself engulfed by feelings of guilt and stress. Missing key milestones in your child’s life, e.g., first steps, school productions, birthdays etc. can be hard for parents to deal with. Probably even harder for a flying mother. In this feature, we talk to Caroline Muchiri, an Assistant Flight Purser, and a mother of two adorable kids. A seventeen-year-old boy and an eleven-year-old girl. How does she juggle motherhood and career?
Finally, a lactating mum resuming a longhaul flight. It’s like leaving your heart out of your body. Never easy to handle!
• Taking family planned vacations and travel around the world.
• Plan for family time e.g., cook-ins at home, going to the movies, minivacation, bonding time.
The other challenge I know most mothers will resonate with is a domestic worker walking out on you as you also plan to leave for duty. Relying too much on a domestic worker to run your home due to your absence is a huge risk.
• Sharing of school calendar dates and roster of the month to plan to be
with them interesting photos of your been and chats about where your child
MEET THE TEAM KQ CATERING TEAM
OUR ENVIRONMENT
MATTERS
Head of Inflight Services and Catering (HOISC) Pauline Kihara and Stephane LOPEZ, General Manager NAS plant a tree seedling at NAS Premises. This is part of our corporate green initiative in environmental preservation. Inflight Partners with NAS to Plant Trees
Meet the Inflight Catering Team. This group of incredible people are going all out, every day, to ensure meal quality, presentation and hygiene with every meal we serve on board. No call will be left unanswered for this team who work round the clock to ensure all your catering operational queries are handled and in good time. They are responsible for implementing the operation, evaluation, and development of the catering processes across all our 23 catering units by ensuring adherence to product, equipment and supplies requirements for greater customer satisfaction. The Team is made up of 9 members led by Miriam Njoki Ndung’u, Catering Operations Manager. The other team members include: Sylvester Odongo, Mercy Kimetto, Ruth Karoki, Caroline Mwita, Esther Okello, Esther Nyawira , Caroline Mutindi and Risper Ouma. Their hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed. We are proud to be associated!
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It’s hard to maintain your mental wellbeing if It’s hard to maintain your mental wellbeing if you’re tired and/ or stressed. Relaxation techniques or meditation can help and ensure that you’re ready to face whatever challenges the next working day holds. Enjoy your job while at it!
Look after your body
HEALTH CORNER
While your job will likely keep you away from home for different periods of time, it’s important to make time to speak with friends and family when you are free. When you’re away, arrange a regular time to call home. When you are home, make the most of that time with your friends and family. The small things can make a big difference to your mood.
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AS A CABIN CREW MEMBER
Look after your mind
A life in the sky provides several challenges, including a busy schedule, or physical strains like jet lag, all which can put you through your paces, mentally and physically. So how do you go about staying healthy as Cabin Crew?
In this feature, we want to focus on how you can look after yourself in your busy cabin crew career –How to be kinder to yourself.
As we’ve mentioned above, a career in the sky can be physically demanding. Coping with changing time zones, shifts and unexpected switches to your schedule can leave your body feeling worn out and older than it is. So here are a few things you can do to keep your body in tip-top shape while you’re travelling across the globe: 1. Regular Exercise: 2. Eat A balanced Diet always 3. Get Enough Sleep 4. Drink at least 8 liters of water daily
Working as a cabin crew member invite plenty of opportunities to do something exciting with your spare time. You get the chance to travel to different parts of the world, and of course explore each country you land in. Enjoy this experience and take every opportunity to try something new and learn more about different Spendcultures.time with your colleagues, where you can laugh and make memories – the most important thing is finding the time to unwind from work, even if every now and then, whatever makes you happy!
Prioritise your friends and family
Under the leadership of FP Victor Mutinda, two of our guests on honeymoon Mrs. Pillay Priyanca and Mr. Somers Yashil Prithviraj travelling to ZNZ from JNB were treated to our Kenyan warm African hospitality as they ushered in their honeymoon in ZNZ.
THE HONEYMOONERS
IIn this issue, we recognize your efforts to give exceptional service to our guests. The positive comments from our customer not only inspire us but also give us the much need motivation to deeper drive our goal of having satisfied guests and meet our objectives. Kudos To us all! Keep it up!
University don, Dr. Francis Mambo was recently treated to a surprise ‘party’ on his 70th birthday aboard our flight from Nairobi to Lusaka, Zambia. Dr. Mambo accompanied by his lovely wife, Diana enjoyed some cake and popped champagne together with other guests who sang and clapped in his honour. It did not stop there. Our inflight team delivered a special PA message announcement to crown it all. SEA
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CELEBRATING BIRTHDAY 39,000 FT. ABOVE
LEVEL MOMENTS OF INFLIGHT DELIGHTS
Once again, the agility of the inflight team came into play on this occasion where we seized the opportunity to organise and surprise this Bonfire Adventure couple as the went for holiday in Mauritius. The business traffic coming in from Bonfire Adventures in terms of package holidays cannot be understated. This was indeed a well-deserved delight.
We had the pleasure of flying Zarina and her mother as she went to Dubai for The World Scholar’s Cup – a social and academic competition for students. Captain Moses Karanja and our inflight crew were onboard to treat her to a memorable experience and wish her well ahead of the competition. Zarina clinched two silver medals and will proceed to the annual tournament of champions at Yale University.
MOMENTS OF INFLIGHT DELIGHTS (Cont.) busMemoriesaremadeofthis…ThisisKQStaffattheAmbassadorbusstageinthe80’s
KQ's GOLDEN ERA
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THE OnboardKABUSSurprise - Bonfire Adventure
KOOL FLYERS
TAKE OFF TRIVIA
Building
How to build relationships at work
positive relationships whether personal or professional is a basic part of success. Every day we meet people some we know well, and others who may be strangers and with every encounter comes the possibility of developing a profitable and rewarding relationship. No matter who we know, we can place them somewhere in our relationship ladder, whether it’s your supervisor, friend, colleague, guest and so on. We all need to feel loved, accepted, valued, and appreciated. Our lives both professional and personal will be ultimately more successful and enriched by establishing and nurturing relationships, rather than actively destroying them. We all need people, even if you prayed to God, he would answer through people.
Successful people have learned how to develop relationships. When challenges occur, they take immediate steps to investigate the problem and reconcile. Be kind and connected to people, do not carry any offence in your heart and you will find dealing with people much easier.
• Develop trust with your colleagues including your supervisors
• Be positive always • Love one another and genuinely care for each other • Communicate. Never ignore problems. Visit Ilearn for courses on Emotional Intelligence.
by Judy Ogutu
RELATIONSHIPS
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When building relationships in the workplace, your attitude really matters. With positive relationships, you will notice an increase in productivity and overall job satisfaction. Take steps toward understanding your emotional intelligence and getting to know your colleagues and supervisors, by doing this, you can build strong lasting, professional relationships.
• Offer solutions to problems as opposed to complaining • Show appreciation and respect for others • Control your temper. Watch your words, once released can cause so much damage. Out of the abundance of the heart so the mouth speaks.
24 THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING OUR JULY IN-FLIGHT KAMUKUNJI Poll Results 1. Which communication channels do you frequently access to know about recent departmental news or developments? a) Emails/CAB Notices - 48% b) Inflight WhatsApp Channels – 45% c) Inflight Kamukuji & Barazas – 40% d) Inflight SMS – 30% e) Notice Board – 15% Respondents - 42 2. How would you rate the Inflight Kamukunji? a) Improvement Needed – 0% b) Meets Expectation – 55% c) Excellent – 60% Respondents - 36 3. Who is the one person or Internal Stakeholder you feel is a MUST attend for the Kamukunji sessions? a) GMD & CEO – 45% b) HR – People Culture Partner -45% c) DOO – 60% d) Inflight Stakeholders – 48% Respondents - 42 Below find the final poll results run during the Kamukunji
25 We’d Love to Hear from You! Do you have a story; a poem; suggestions or photos you would like to share with us? Kindly get in touch with us on Inflight.CommsChampions@kenya-airways.com