Flying First Class with Nelly Chileshe Bupe

Zambian national, Nelly Chileshe Bupe, works as cabin crew looking after First Class passengers for Emirates combining her career with her passion for travelling. She has worked for the carrier for the past seven and a half years and has worked up to caring for First Class passengers.

“Working for Emirates is a fantastic opportunity and experience. To work with people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds and being a part of a company that is one of the best airline brands in the world is very exciting and rewarding. It has helped me to grow as an individual. I couldn’t be more thankful to be able to work and travel. I love it very much. It also offers great benefits, job security, work recognition and opportunities for growth,” said Bupe.
 
Her family has played a large role in her development into cabin crew, as Bupe followed her father into a job in logistics.
 
Bupe is originally from Ndola, Zambia, but said she does not get to return home. “I do not go back to Ndola, where I grew up as much I would love to. However, I enjoy the fact that my family gets to visit me in Dubai and see all it has to offer. I come from a family of six children. My family is very proud and happy that I work for Emirates. It is a great airline to work for and it has amazing benefits for cabin crew and staff,” she said.
 
Despite not being able to visit, Bupe remembers her home country fondly, missing: “the magnificent Victoria Falls, with its beautiful rainbows, the Devil’s Pool on the Falls, descending the Falls and seeing the Boiling Pot.”
 
However, with the introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER onto the Lusaka route, there is the chance that Bupe will be flying with her passengers back to Zambia.
 
“Zambia has so much to offer international visitors. Some of my favourite places include the Victoria Falls (Mosi O Tunya) National Park, as well as the world-renowned South Luangwa National Park, and experiencing nature, activities and wildlife in the Lower Zambezi with Mukuni big five safaris,” she said.
 
Working for Emirates has given Bupe the chance to travel the world, with Spain becoming one of her favourite destinations: “It’s my favourite place in the world after my home country. I love the people, their warm hospitality, the gorgeous architecture and the shopping. They have great local clothing brands, which are very trendy and affordable.”
 
Bupe has also found a love for her carrier’s base, Dubai: “It is traveller friendly, very safe, with a world class public transport system, making it easy and convenient to get around. I would suggest a ride on a traditional boat across The Creek and visit the many souks and try some of the many restaurants in the area featuring cuisine from many different countries. I would also suggest seeing some of Dubai’s iconic symbols, such as the world’s only seven star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Shopping in Dubai is amazing, with many malls across the city.”