.. As Onyejiocha promises Govt support

Picture Caption:
Ethiopian airlines historic all female operated flight to Lagos led by Captain Amsale Gualu.
First Flight Officer, Nnek Moses of Goge Africa,  Captain Amsale Gualu, Director, Consumer Protection, NCAA, Adamu Abdulahi, Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, and Ethiopian airlines country manager at the reception of the first all female operated flight to Lagos held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Ethipian Airline’s first all female crew in Africa on Saturday December 16th landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Amid funfare.

The Boeing 777-300 flight which was flown by Capt. Amsale Gualu left Bole International Airport Addis Ababa to Lagos around 10.30 am with a full load of passengers comprising 391 passengers 11 crew and 2 pilots landed at around after 1 pm in Lagos.

The Ethiopian Airline flight was the first international all Women Operated flight to Nigeria and the first time the airline will be operating an all women flight in Africa.

Every role on the flight; starting from the pilots, cabin crew to in flight ramp operations as well as flight dispatchers on ground were performed by females.

The all female crew also has Tigist Kibret as the First Officer.

Speaking earlier on Friday at the airlines corporate headquarters in Addis Ababa during an interview, the managing director International services of Ethiopian Airlines, Esayas WoldeMariam Hailu explained that the airline wants to break that stereotype about the role of women in the society and the belief that women cannot handle all aircraft type.

Esayas said the flight is also to tell Africans that our sisters can fly all aircraft type.

He stated further that part of the motive of the flight is to also promote women’s empowerment and encourage more African women to pursue aviation careers.

Esayas stated that although one-third of its employees are women, the figure is smaller when it comes to positions such as pilots and technicians.

The aircraft landed amid clapping by passengers on board, who applauded the all female crew.

Speaking while receiving the crew on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, the chairperson House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha said the flight is a ground breaking event for the females in aviation industry in Nigeria and Africa.

Hon. Onyejiocha said this development is a call to all females in Nigeria to begin to look inward in the aviation industry, stressing that “we need to train our children to be come Pilots, cabin crew, managing directors, ministers and others”.

She pointed out that Ethiopian Airlines is the only airlines that did not abandon the country during recession.

The Lawmaker noted that the airline operated to Kaduna Airport when Abuja Airport runway was closed and when other airlines refused to fly to Kaduna.

The airline fly to our airports even when we do not have all facilities as par passengers comfort, she added

Onyejiocha promised that the government will support the airline to expand its operations in Nigeria.

In her brief remarks, the Captain of the heroic all female flight to Nigeria, Amsale Gualu stated that the flight is not her first international flight, but actually her first African all female operated flight.

Captain Gualu said she is very privileged to be part of the historic flight.

On whether she felt uncomfortable during the period of turbulence during the flight, Gualu said, “not at all because I have the experience”.

She disclosed that flying has been her childhood dream.

In her words: “I wanted to be a pilot, when I was young my father used to take me and my sister to the airport to see planes take off and land. I used to be impressed by the uniforms of the pilots and crew members, I guess that was when my passion for flying developed. After graduating from Ethiopian University, I joined, Ethiopian Airline as first officer and grew all the way, I flew Fokker 50, and Being 767 as first officer and became a captain in 2010 and am here on 777 aircraft . One of the latest aircraft”.

On her advice to other females looking up to her, she said: “Though we share some common features between men and women and differences between males and females also, but regardless of that, being a woman does not stop from us from achieving what we want to achieve”.

Captain Guale, in 2010 become the first Ethiopian female captain by flying an Ethiopian Airlines Bombardier from Addis Ababa to Gondar.

In her remarks also, the general manager, of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria Firihewot Mekonenn noted that: “She is privileged to be a woman, the first female general manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria and also to be the one receiving this very important flight to Lagos”.

Mekonenn observed that Ethiopian Airlines has decided to always reward the Nigerian traveller for the loyalty they have shown to the Airline.

“This is the reason that we are bringing the first All women Operated Flight in Africa  to Lagos Nigeria.  The Flight. today  by Capt Amsale Gualu had 391 passengers 363 Economy and 28 business Class on a B777- 300.  Every aspect of the Flight was handled by a Woman. 
 Nigeria is not just our great partner but also a country that has shown Africa what Women can do. Women can achieve a lot and Nigeria is a leading light in Women Empowerment in Africa. One of first Women Pilots in Africa is a Nigerian.
 Today Ethiopian Airlines Africa’s first 4 star Airline  is proud to be the first to Operate an all  Women Operated  flight to Nigeria. We  are all witnesses to history today,” she emphasised.

 She used the opportunity to thank their Nigerian passengers and government for the growth of Ethiopian Airlines in the country.

 Speaking also, the managing director of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco Aviance) Plc, Mr. Idris Yakubu promised that the comply will continue to handle all their flight excellently with quality customer service and better management of their clients