How Kenya Airways Honoured Flight Purser Who Served For 38 Years [PHOTOS]

On Monday, August 14, the airline staged an out-of-the-blue ceremonial water cannon salute to celebrate Waweru's farewell, having served at KQ for close to 38 years.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 14, 2023 - 16:13 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 23:59
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How Kenya Airways Honoured Flight Purser Who Served For 38 Years [PHOTOS]
Flight purser, Alice Waweru receives a guard of honour from the captains and flight crew of Kenya Airways while marking her retirement on August 14, 2023. /KENYA AIRWAYS

It might have seemed to be a normal working day for flight purser Alice Waweru, but little did she know that national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) had prepared a surprise for her that she will never forget.

On Monday, August 14, the airline staged an out-of-the-blue ceremonial water cannon salute to celebrate Waweru's farewell, having served at KQ for close to 38 years.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner she was aboard in was welcomed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi by two fire engines spraying their water cannons in the air in a guard of honour-like pose as it taxied its way to the apron of the country's biggest airport.

"After nearly 38 years in the skies, Flight Purser Alice Waweru concluded her remarkable journey with the Pride of Africa. Her tenure as a cabin crew came to an end with a final flight to JFK, New York. 

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner receives a water cannon salute upon arriving at JKIA on August 14, 2023. /KENYA AIRWAYS

"To honour her for her exemplary service, we mounted a ceremonial water cannon salute which took her by surprise," stated KQ in part.

The airline added that Waweru's tenure as a cabin crew came to an end with her final flight to the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Coincidentally, she was the flight purser who was present for the national carrier's first direct flight to the United States (US) in October 2018, viewed as the culmination of a long-winding road for Kenya Airways to secure direct flights to America for the first time in its history.

Speaking upon landing at the JKIA where she was received by family and friends, Waweru said it has been a pleasure serving as an attendant at the carrier.

Flight purser Alice Waweru gifted a pictorial during her retirement from Kenya Airways on August 14, 2023. /KENYA AIRWAYS

"I am so speechless right now. My journey at KQ has been marked by self-development, and now I stand ready for this new chapter and the exploration of new frontiers," she remarked.

Waweru was further treated to a cake-cutting session that was characterised by mingling with her colleagues and family as they took photos for future memories.

Who Is A Flight Purser?

A flight purser is different from a flight attendant, though he or she can also serve as a flight attendant.

Every commercial flight will have a purser as part of the cabin crew team. Some airlines may use a different name, but the purser is essentially in charge of the cabin crew.

They take responsibility for cabin safety, passenger experience, and much of the flight paperwork. Pursers will often rise through cabin crew and will always be fully trained and qualified flight attendants.

Depending on the aircraft capacity, flight length, and size of the cabin crew, there could be multiple pursers involved. For example, a chief purser could take lead responsibility, with other purses heading up separate classes or cabins.

Flight purser Alice Waweru cuts a cake with her husband and three children to celebrate her retirement from Kenya Airways on August 14, 2023. /KENYA AIRWAYS

According to KLM, the purser’s duties begin before the flight. They will review flight and passenger information, consider any special requirements, and coordinate with the airport gate and boarding team as required and will also assign cabin crew roles for the flight.

Once onboard, the purser conducts all announcements over the PA system and updates the pilots on any information that they should know from the cabin. When working with passengers, they are in charge of ensuring landing cards are handed out, and keeping travellers abreast of any changes in flight time, upcoming turbulence, and meal services.

However, the purser also ensures that any misbehaving passengers are dealt with adequately and any heated situations are resolved calmly. In the worst cases, the purser can also recommend a passenger be removed from the aircraft for their actions in air rage cases.

Finally, they will take responsibility for many of the administrative tasks during and after the flight. This could include recording in-flight sales, reporting cabin problems or defects, and completing crew documentation or comments.

Qualifications

To qualify as a purser, each airline has different policies. Usually, one must be a crew member for five to 10 years before applying to become a purser.

Notably, the purser may not always be the seniormost crew member onboard, with Customer Service Directors or Inflight Service Managers being the authority on all matters, also known as a chief purser.