Mr. Ige, Olu Ohunayo, Jane Roberts, Ms. Joy Ogbebo, Fortune Idu and Mr. Alex Nwuba
The need for cabin crew to urgently adapt to new trends and challenges took the center stage at the recently concluded Cabin Crew Fair 2021 in Lagos.
With the Covid pandemic, speakers at the event emphasized that, the cabin crew must be ready to make the necessary adjustments as regards dressing and attending to passengers.
They also stated that, there are 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, they have to do more in showing empathy.
According to him, cabin crew as an interface between the airline and passengers, they have the duties of reassuring the passengers that they are 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.
He said, a lot is being done in terms of technology especially in the use of robots instead of humans to attend to passengers, he said, 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”.
He also charged cabin crew to develop themselves as their lives do not start and end with serving people and ensuring their safety, adding that, there is also a time to retire from the job.
In her opening remarks, organizer 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.
She stressed that, the role that cabin attendants play in the safety value chain is critical and it has 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 went 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 again would help to emphasize the critical roles the attendants play in safety.
Chairman, Airport Business Summit and NIGAV Centre Mr . Fortune Idu said, the role played by the cabin attendants is often not mentioned and because they are relegated in the safety value chian, many see them as those responsible for only serving tea and coffee onboard the aircraft.
According to him, because of the critical role they play, the Nigeria Aviation Award, NIGAV organizer put in place an award for the King and the Queen of the Air.
He explained that, at this award, cabin attendants from differrent airlines are expected to compete to be crown and win cash award.
Mr. Idu said, the award is also to explain to passengers and non-passengers that the attendants are as important as the pilots, engineers and other personnel in air travel.
“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.
There was also a display of the aisle meets the runway, questions and answers section answered by the various speakers to the satisfaction of the participants.
