The Take Off

ISSUE 001 NOVEMBER 2021

THE

TAKE OFF INFLIGHT NEWSLETTER

WINE SERVICE 101: POURED BY EXPERTS IN THE SKY

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP NEW DIRECTION

CABIN CREW DIARIES

UP CLOSE WITH OUR LONGEST SERVING CABIN CREW

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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF INFLIGHT SERVICES AND CATERING (HOISC) Dear Team, champions to put their thoughts out, for our consumption and improvement.

I hope and trust that we are all doing well across our network even as the season brightens up with increased workload and the effects of Covid 19 wane off, though gradually. We still managed to be voted the best Airline of choice and best business class due to the great work you are all putting on guest centricity.

As a Team we shall continue to bring forth the fruits of our labour; month on month, quarter on quarter and year on year to establish a sound fraternity that we shall all be proud of.

We are aware of our own shortcomings as shared to us in Management and shall strive to also better our service to you.

As you browse through this esteemed publication, meditate on the areas where your footprints (Photography, jokes, health write-ups, financial education and sports) will also find a home in our Section, Department and Kenya airways family for our National development.

I am deeply pleased to pen this maiden message in this inaugural Inflight Newsletter that was promised on the 3rd of August 2021 during our last Kamukunji. The realization of this milestone is celebratory on many fronts and most importantly the enthusiasm with which many of you have expressed an interest to be a part and parcel of this venture. Thank you. I ask that we embrace this effort by providing solutions through our writings.

May we continually epitomize the PRIDE OF AFRICA. Sincerely, Pauline Kihara HOISC.

The Communications survey we carried out gave us more insight into the thirst for such an investment and we are blessed with talent in our midst to help us soar to new heights on this course. The coverage speaks to our promise on many issues namely safety, Crew members’ Well-being through Embrace Partners where we encourage each one of us to be our brother’s keeper, Uniform standards, customer centricity, fun and many more.

This Newsletter has ownership in each one of us and our collective ethos shall be enshrined in this artwork of words and colour to help educate many who may not be as lucky to have a glimpse of our everyday endeavors.

This shall be a quarterly output calling communication

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WINE SERVICE 101: POURED BY EXPERTS IN THE SKY “Would you prefer Red or White wine sir/madam?” This is a common question we ask our guests as we roll down the aisle with our bar trolleys both in Business or Economy Class. From full-bodied reds and crisp whites to sparkling champagnes and sweet ports, the flavor profile of wines varies greatly.

As cabin crew, we ought to be well versed in wine knowledge. Whether you’re a flight purser, a seasoned flight attendant or a newbie, the right wine served to a guest can enhance their overall inflight dining experience.

We’ve put together a list of wines currently served onboard our flights. Read on and refresh on a few important factors for each wine bottle.

CHAMPAGNE N/V Brut Premier Cru Grande Reserve J.M Gobillard et Fils (Champagne, France): Decanter World Wine Award Champagne with very rich aromas of toast, fresh bakery and fruit expressions. It is rounded on the palate, full and lively with crisp and refreshing acidity.

Food Pairing: Seafood, fish, salads and white meat dishes.

WHITE WINE Domaine Martin - Petit Martin Viognier (Côtes du Rhône France): Very elegant aromas of citrus fruits and herbal nuances, with a mouth filling and firm fruity palate, amazing minerality and refreshing length.

Food Pairing: seafood, fish, salads and seafood fish pasta dishes.

Waterford Elgin Sauvignon Blanc (Elgin, SA): An astonishing Sauvignon Blanc showing fresh granadilla and green apple fruit, with underlying chalk and slate notes, c onfirming the Elgin origin of the grapes.

Food Pairing: best matched with seafood dishes and salads.

RED WINE Domaine Martin Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages ‘Plan de Dieu’ (France): Deep crimson with a powerful nose of red fruits, macerated stone fruits and subtle spice and liquorice undercurrents.

Food Pairing: fish in cream sauce preparations and great with Lamb, Venison and beef steak or stew Diemersfontein Pinotage On the nose, rich dark chocolate and powerful freshly brewed coffee styling with a hint of mint and baked plums.

Food Pairing: Rich casseroles and gentle curries, however the best companion for this wine is a rich, decadent chocolate dessert.

Grahams LBV Port The wine offers enticing aromas of red and black fruits with some lovely mint and eucalyptus notes. It is generous on the palate, with Graham’s typical opulence, revealing delicious blackberry fruit underscored by ripe, polished tannins, which give the wine great freshness and vitality.

Pairings: Sweet and rich desserts e.g., Chocolate and/caramel desserts as well as cheese.

Question: What do we focus on when choosing wine? (A quote from Patrick) Finally, as cabin crew, we are well trained on the principles of food pairing to be able to recommend the best wines to accompany meals. Stay top of your game with proper knowledge and experience needed to provide excellent inflight service and enhance guest experience. Even with all the other roles we have as crew, we must endeavor to give our guest the best food and wine experience- making it easier to sit back, relax and enjoy our cabin services!

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DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP NEW DIRECTION: INFLIGHT EMBRACE GROUP We held our third Inflight Kamukunji in August that saw the birth of The Inflight Embrace initiative. The Embrace group is an assembly of colleagues who have offered themselves as well as proposed by their peers to help tackle day to day challenges. The group’s main objectives are on supporting staff with mental health wellness, work-life balance and Trauma support as a result of the effects of COVID-19.

The group boasts 39 Partners who work closely with the Medical Team, the KQ Provident Fund on financial guidance as well as other interested sections such as Flight Safety. This group of 39 has a chairman, Flight Purser Dickson Nyibule supported by Flight Attendant Charyl Atieno Odhiambo.

The last one hundred days have seen engagements on financial prowess during lean times, Mental health. A session on Panic Attacks and Anxiety is in early 2022. We just concluded a survey on the impact of the group and the survey outcome will be shared in due course. Last but not least, our partners have been taken through training sessions to bridge the gaps on knowledge and delivery of their mandate.

The support from Inflight Management and other partnering departments signals greater days ahead. The Medical Team is an arm of the Human Resources hence a core partner of this venture.

KQ Embrace TECHNICAL TAKE We take this opportunity to appreciate one of our key stakeholders, the Technical Department for their continued support to safety in the skies. Our cabins play a very important role in showcasing who we are and directly reflect on our safety culture. Thank you to all for your support and commitment towards this course.

As we all know, the cabin is our workspace, and we need to ensure that we keep this environment spic and span and safeguard safety equipment found therein.

We have teamed up to ensure we take responsibility and account for loose cabin equipment. The success of this project cannot be realised without your input. Below is the look of what is expected on the E-190 fleet.

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DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP

BCF 737-8 (DEC 2021 AND JUN 2022) Great news is on the way…………. Soon our fleet will be joined by two BCF 737-8 (Boeing Converted Freighter) to bolster our growing cargo business as we chart our way forward in finding opportunities that will increase our revenue streams. Inflight together with technical are working together to ensure the ACs delivered will be fit for purpose and meet our specs and standards in terms of safety and the galley configuration.

LAUNDRY COMMISSIONED We are delighted to reveal our latest development, the KQ Laundry Unit. Unveiled on Monday 8th November at our Head Office in Embakasi, the new laundry unit which is now fully operational will see the business save up to Kshs. 87million annually with a net present value of 40M. The laundry services were previously outsourced to NAS, who had also leased our equipment. Moving the facility back to Kenya Airways is part of our action towards financial prudence and operational efficiency. We hope to grow revenues by selling our services to other clients including the KQ family.

We are happy to mention that this was one of the projects that saw a representation from the entire organization. Special thanks go to the project team drawn from Inflight, Catering, Technical, Finance, Commercial stores, Security, Commercial, Ground operations and Procurement. The team spirit demonstrated is a true reflection of our shared commitment to strengthening our operational efficiency.

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DEPARTMENTAL NEWS ROUNDUP

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT IFE To continue delighting our guests within the cabin, technical with the support of inflight are working on upgrading IFE software in our wide body fleet (787). So far, the following tails have been upgraded and we look forward to your feedback as you interact with this systems 5Y-KZE and 5Y-KZC. As for our B737 NG, the servers have been upgraded and we have rolled out the new generation WiFi boxes on board. This will go a long way in enhancing guest comfort onboard.

Salient features: • Double chamber battery slots fully secured with a stopper.

• Longer lasting battery life each with capacity to run up to six hours and a total of up to 12 hours.

• Compatible with both IOS and Android devises.

• Not restricted to Chrome and can upload on different search engines.

• Air and land mode operation.

• Easy access through https://kqcinema.evrehub.aero.

CONGO OPERATIONS. The ACMI that gives us the opportunity to venture into Congo is now fully operational. Tail number 5Y-FFM landed in Congo on the 15th September 2021 followed by 5Y-FFL. Our operations in partnership with Congo Airways official begun on the 18th September 2021.

Through your support we have been able to rotate over 20 colleagues towards this operation. We sincerely appreciate all of you for having pugged in and endured the challenges of setting up in this new environment. Indeed, this was not easy for many, but you rose to the occasion. Your feedback has been instrumental in the gains made so far in streamlining these operations.

Through the different cultures we have the privilege to appreciate diversity.

Keeping our eye on the ball we can have a taste of the two worlds. We implore you to seize advantage of this opportunity and spread some love within the contest of safety even as we delight our guests with true Kenyan hospitality. hospitality.

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CABIN CREW DIARIES UP CLOSE WITH OUR LONGEST SERVING CABIN CREW Meet Alice Waweru and Dickson Nyibule, our longest serving Cabin Crew! Their career in the aviation industry has spanned more than three decades. The two spoke with the Inflight Magazine crew. Below are excerpts of their interviews.

ALICE WAMAITHA WAWERU – FLIGHT PURSER Give brief description of your career journey since you joined KQ? I have been with Kenya Airways for for 36 years. When I joined the airline, we were only 18 in my group. Today, I am the only one left. I have had successful career growth which started as a Stewardess. - I then grew through the ranks to Flight Purser, a role I have proudly held to date.

My journey has been fulfilling. I’ve had the opportunity of being trained by well-seasoned Instructors both locally and abroad. I have experienced working international airlines such as a Dutch charter airline, Air Holland and I’m proud to have operated the inaugural New York Flight. This was history in the making for KQ and Kenya. It was great to be part of it.

What keeps you going in the face of disaster?

There will always be challenges. My faith in Jesus Christ, family, Inflight Management friends and colleagues have helped me overcome challenges. My faith and maintaining a positive attitude keep me going.

I’m forever grateful.

Why do you believe in KQ? I have watched KQ grow from Fokker27/Fokker50, DC9, DC10, A310, B707, B709B737, B757, B767, 777, B787, E190. I believe KQ has the ability to soar higher and its presence is felt in all continents.

Any parting shot?

Wait on God, wait for God, wait with God. I know times are tough. Remember, we don’t grow when things are easy. We grow when we face challenges. My advice to all is to be positive and give the best you can. Be thankful for all that you have, tomorrow will take care of itself. Check within yourselves and tap on your gifts and talents

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DICKSON NYIBULE – FLIGHT PURSER Kindly give us a brief introduction When did you join KQ and how long have you been around?

My name is Dickson Nyibule I am currently working as a Flight Purser at KQ a position that I attained after going through the ranks having started as a junior Flight Attendant.

I joined KQ on the 8th of august 1986 and soon thereafter entered into a three-month intensive training under the tutelage of our then instructors Frank Odhiambo and Rose Mburu for Inflight services and Mr. Mogaka and Mr. Ali for Emergency School. I am proud to have recently received a certificate for 35 years of service.

Can you give brief description of your career journey since you joined KQ? My journey at KQ started in a place called Wundanyi when a colleague saw an advert on Nation newspaper for Flight Attendants. I applied and did my interview at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa where only two of us were successful. We joined as a group of 33 FAs. Upon graduation, we immediately started our flights on the Fokker Friendship 27 or F-27. This was mostly on local flights between NBO, MBA KIS and Malindi. Afterwards we were upgraded to regional flights mostly on the DC-9 and later to the Iconic B707. In the earlier days, once you left a particular fleet, for example F-27, there was no looking back. The previous fleet was removed from your license, much like the Pilots are doing right now. Over time we also flew on the B-757 to Paris and to Madrid with a technical stop in Cairo. Then we had the AIRBUS A-310 -300 and the B767 -300, the 737 series and eventually the B-777 200/300 and finally the Dreamliner. I am now a Flight Purser after climbing through the ranks successfully.

What about your time at KQ are you most proud of?

My greatest moment in KQ came in June 1988 when our group was officially launched into international flights. All of us boarded the AIRBUS flight KQ 114 routing Nairobi- Frankfurt – London as pax. We dropped off in Frankfurt and proceeded to our initial Airbus training at the Lufthansa Emergency Training School for two weeks. Our excitement was palpable.

We were young and certainly the whole world was about to open right before us.

The airline is going through tough times, what is your advice to the rest of the Cabin Crew family?

Indeed, the global aviation industry is going through tough times and especially at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the severe negative impact that the pandemic had on earnings, I would strongly advise our wider crew family to review their expectations and also adjust their lifestyles to reflect the reality on ground.

Any obstacles or challenges in life and how have you overcome them?

My journey through flying has of course not been smooth sailing. I had quite a bit of turbulence. At one point I was severely addicted to alcohol to the extent that it was interfering with my work. This was a big challenge and obstacle to my progress in KQ. At this point I was already a Flight Purser and so I volunteered for the Employee Assistance Programme and successfully went through counselling. I am proud that its now 15 years since I parted ways with alcohol, and I couldn’t be happier. In the face of disaster, I keep on remembering the phrase that says....”its darkest before dawn” this makes me focused on the desire to overcome any challenges knowing that a new day will surely bring new developments.

Why do you believe in KQ? As an airline, KQ has gone through its fair share of misfortunes and bright moments over the years. However, what makes me continue to believe in KQ is that overwhelming determination to succeed against all odds; that forever fighting spirit that KQ has demonstrated over the years informs my ultimate belief in our company.

Any parting shot?

A lot of my colleagues sometimes marvel at the number of years that I have achieved, and they also wonder what keeps my fire burning as fresh as ever. Its simple really. I come to work with a positive mind and a singular objective of flying our guests not only safely but also with the most delightful experience on board. We owe it to our future generations to keep the Pride of Africa up in the skies!

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ON TIME PERFORMANCE (OTP) FOR OCTOBER 2021 The Average Network OTP for the month of October 2021 was within target but dropped by 04 points at Zero and 03 points at 15 mins compared to Sept 2021. With this, we achieved an average OTP of 77% at Zero Mins and 85 % at 15Mins from 81% and 88% respectively.

TOP PRIMARY INFLIGHT DELAYS – OCT 2021 The inflight delays were at 8% compared to 4% in September. This means the inflight delays doubled. These were mainly due to: 1. Late Purser Requests 2. Late Duty reporting by crew 3. Prolonged pre-flight briefings 4. Late boarding clearance Let us try our best to minimise the above causes of inflight delays. With collective effort from every team member, we should see a major improvement in the coming months

CREW INSPO - STAYING HEALTHY WHILE FLYING Take note of the below healthy travel tips for a healthy crew in the skies.

1. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! - Staying properly hydrated is necessary to keep your body functioning properly. When traveling, staying hydrated is even more important. Extremely low humidity levels in the cabin makes dehydration a common condition for travellers.

2. Stay Cool - Stay cool when passengers take out their frustrations on you. Listen, offer solutions where possible. “Extend love to others no matter what.”

QUOTE TO REMEMBER “People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.”

- Maya Angelou -

3. Hit The Ground and Run – Exercise! Make good use of hotel gym membership availed to you by the business. While back at home, you don’t have to be a member of an expensive gym, enjoy the outdoors and get out some good sweat.

4. Quality Sleep - Turn off the TV, whether at home or at the hotel, try and get in some good 8hr sleep. It’s good for your skin and memory too!

TRIVIA

DOWN MEMORY LANE - KQ's GOLDEN ERA

5. Cut The Carbs -Nutrition is key. Eat right! It is very easy to grab junk food when you’re tired. Processed foods will leave you feeling sluggish. Ditch the white rolls, pastas instead go more for healthy options and fruits.

6. Skin on Point- Long flights can dry out your skin, as you stat hydrated, remember to take care of your skin.

Invest in a good hand moisturizer and lip balm to fight high-altitude dryness. This will go a long way in helping to feel refreshed.

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Can you Identify this Oldie?

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! About 1/3 of your taste buds are numbed while flying. Maybe that meal was not bland after all?

I-DELIGHT MOMMENTS In this issue, we recognize FP Khan Mohamed for the wonderful job he to ensure guest Miller unites with a bag he forgot in a taxi. This is the kind of act that put Kenya Airways on the map. The customer was delighted with how you handled the situation. It is a joy for us to work with such dedicated colleagues. Well, done Khan.

We celebrate you.

See below feedback from a guest.

ONE BAG LEFT IN THE CAR STEVE MILLER - KQ002 ON 7/15/21 We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mohamed Khan, a superstar staff at Kenya Airways who turned this nightmare into a beacon of hope and reminder of all that is good. Mohamed Khan was the flight supervisor on flight KQ002 on 7/15/21. As we boarded, he welcomed the passengers. His welcome was so authentic that rather than give a perfunctory ok my husband replied that he was very upset. We did not elaborate because we did not think anyone cared but Mr. Khan persisted. His persistence and attention to detail made Steve finally open up to him about our harrowing experience with the lost bag.

After breakfast, my husband finally told Mr. Khan about the leftover bag because it was obvious Mr. Khan was genuinely concerned about our wellbeing. He assured us he would take care of it, which was a surprise to us! And he did. After verifying the contents were safe, he transported the bag to New York. After it arrived in the US, he personally paid for it to be shipped to our home and refused our offer to reimburse him.

What no one knew knew was that the bag contained a Masai blanket that my husband intended to be a gift to a newborn baby who had been named after the unexpected passing of his youngest son Mr. Khan’s sincere concern makes us want to look for a reason to fly Kenya Airways again. We have traveled on many airlines but never felt the loyalty inspired by Mr. Khan. It was not his responsibility, but he said he would take care of it and he did.

We literally want to go back to Kenya or anywhere Kenya Airways flies just so we can show how much we appreciate him. In these dark times, Mr. Khan reminds us that God not only exists but blesses us.

Lisa Bernardini and Steve Miller

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We celebrate our team members who have welcomed new family members in the course of this year. Congratulations on the beautiful new addition to your families. May you all be blessed with good health and happiness.

“Congratulations!”

NEW BABY MILESTONES!

Name Delivery Month 1.

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5.

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Karanja Kelvyne Olivia Wangari Kakunde Fanny Mwaka Mburu Rose Wanja Maritim Linda Chepkorir Warui Rachael Wanjiru Ngendo Grace Murugi Warui Rachael Wanjiru Hamidu Ayishatu Hawkins Mensah Davina Mwaura Ruth Nyamweru

February March May July July August August August August September

UP COMING EVENT

Trivia Answer: The aircraft is fokker friendship F27. It was in operation in 1982 Would operate routes like Mombasa and Kisumu

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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

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