Join me as I travel on Kenya Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Bangkok to Nairobi, getting rare behind-the-scenes access with the flight crew on this overnight journey.
I link up with a team of 10 Kenya Airways cabin crew and 3 pilots, meeting them at the gate before departure. This flight features a crew change in Bangkok, as the aircraft arrives from Guangzhou, China, giving a unique opportunity to observe the full handover process.
The Inflight Manager, Mohammad, walks me through the crew’s critical pre-flight duties — from signing off on catering and cabin cleaning to reviewing passenger manifests. The crew also carry out essential aircraft checks, including water and waste systems and multiple onboard features, ensuring everything is fully operational before departure.
Up front, the pilots are busy preparing the aircraft in the cockpit, while a ground engineer formally hands over the Boeing 787 and addresses any remaining maintenance items.
Once airborne, we settle in for an 8-hour 45-minute flight to Nairobi. Later, I’m shown the crew rest area in the rear of the Dreamliner, featuring six bunks designed to keep the crew rested on long-haul operations.
We land in Nairobi at daybreak and I prepare for my onward journey to Juba, South Sudan.
This is the side of aviation passengers rarely get to see — enjoy the journey behind the scenes.
