News Desk
DUBAI: An Emirates flight boards not just passengers and crew, but also a vibrant tapestry of cultures, languages, and demographics. It’s the upside of being based in Dubai – a melting pot of 200 nationalities and hundreds of cultures and subcultures – and having an enviable network of more than 140 destinations. On International Cabin Crew Day, Emirates proudly celebrated this mosaic of diversity that truly sets its crew community apart.
Is language a barrier? Never on an Emirates flight. With over 70 languages fluently spoken by its 22,000 cabin crew, passengers feel understood and comforted throughout their journey.
Fun fact: around 1,000 Emirates cabin crew members are fluent in four or more languages. That valuable skillset not only helps them assist passengers from all over the world, but also adds a bit of pizzazz to inflight announcements. A few crew members are also proficient in sign language and the airline provides resources, encouraging crew to acquire the basic skills.
The airline embraces the diversity of its cabin crew community of over 140 nationalities as a cornerstone of its identity, setting a global standard for inclusivity in the industry. The nuances of managing diversity are manifest in many ways. As an example, the iconic red lipstick worn by cabin crew members is not a one-shade-fits-all. A diverse palette of shades match every skin tone, ensuring crew feel comfortable and confident about their appearance.
Emirates cabin crew are given specialised training tailored for specific routes, equipping them with the skills to cater to diverse cultural preferences. Whether it’s mastering the art of serving meals with bento trays or wielding chopsticks, crew ensure an authentic and seamless customer experience. Cabin crew also learn about culinary flavours from all corners of the world, are trained to prepare, plate and serve regionally inspired meals – whether its Kaiseki on Japanese routes, Arabic Mezze in the Gulf or Moqueca to Brazil.
The crew are trained in preparation for the Holy Month of Ramadan, and understand the specific onboard products, the sensitivities around customers who may be fasting, and how best to accommodate their special needs. Last year, Emirates cabin crew celebrated over 15 major festivals onboard – Eid, Oktoberfest, Christmas, Holi, Diwali, Lunar New Year and many more – and served traditional cuisine and sweet treats the authentic way.
In the past couple of years, more than 29,000 Emirates cabin crew and airport services employees globally have completed the ‘Introduction to Autism and Hidden Disabilities’ training. The course covers a range of topics, including recognising autism, responding with empathy, and provides practical tips on how to assist passengers with hidden disabilities.
What crew say
Melissa Brathwaite from Barbados summed up her nine years at Emirates: “I’ve always wanted to be a part of the Emirates crew community and wanted to represent Barbados as well. We’re such a small country and Emirates is the world’s largest international airline, so it really means the world to me to be able to come this far and represent my country and travel the world while doing it.”
Fabian Bluecher, from Germany said: “I always wanted to work on an A380, and Emirates gave me the opportunity to fly to such a wide network on it. I also really enjoy going out with my colleagues especially when we fly to Frankfurt, my home turf. This way I can show them our culture, food and how we celebrate life.”
Russian cabin crew, Margarita Zhibika shares her inspiration to join Emirates: “For me it’s the small things that really matter. I love this job because you can help so many people in so many different ways. Once on a long-haul flight, a new mother was exhausted, so we offered to take care of her baby while she rested. All we did was colour and play with him, but the mother woke up so happy and fresh. Those small things matter.”
Life at Emirates
Emirates’ cabin crew embody a cosmopolitan and vibrant lifestyle in one of the world’s safest cities, Dubai. Cabin crew are known to form lifelong friendships and close-knit bonds with their colleagues, fostering better teamwork, a common sense of purpose and a shared service philosophy.
All new cabin crew undergo an intense 8 weeks of training in the highest standards of hospitality, safety and service delivery in Emirates’ state-of-the-art facility in Dubai. They gain invaluable transferable life skills gained by working with a diverse crew community while experiencing new destinations and cultures across the Emirates network.
This year, the world’s largest international airline is recruiting more than 5,000 cabin crew from over 460 cities. For aspiring cabin crew, the opportunity to join Emirates is one recruitment event away. To learn more about the requirements, benefits, training programme, global recruitment events calendar and to apply, visit Emirates cabin crew careers page here.
