Black History Month honour for Chekayha
‘An honour’.
That’s how one of our former students has described being part of an all-black airline crew that helped celebrate Black History Month.
Chekayha Lemmon was chosen to be part of the team on the Tui flight from Manchester to Boa Vista, in Cape Verde, on Thursday 3 October.
The passengers - on both this flight and another from the airline on the same day, also staffed by an all-black crew, to Jamaica - were greeted by traditional steel bands as they checked in. The aim was to highlight the contribution of black and mixed heritage communities in the travel industry, while demonstrating Tui’s Caribbean and African Network Group’s motto: ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’.
Chekayha recently completed a Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) in Travel and Tourism Management at the University Centre after studying aviation at Leeds City College.
Chekayha Lemmon (left) with fellow cabin crew members on TUI’s Black History Month flight to Cape Verde. Photograph: Paul Francis/TUI.
A privilege and a pleasure
She said: “I felt honoured to be chosen amongst others that had applied for the position on the flight; it was a real privilege and pleasure to be able to be a part of this and promote Black History Month within the company.
“My career in aviation is the best- there isn't a job like it, and for anyone that’s contemplating a role in the industry I'd say don't hold back, go for it!”
All of the crew members had a story to tell about their motivations and routes into the industry.
Anything is possible
For Chekayha, education was key: “I studied aviation operations at college which I really enjoyed - it allowed me to learn and experience what the travel industry would be like!
“Then, a few years later, I moved onto studying at the university centre which was challenging, but when you're determined to do something you can, as long as you put your mind to it. That’s especially true when you have someone like Leah Hughes, who was my travel and tourism management lecturer, guiding you."
Chekayha, who achieved a first class honours degree, is now looking forward to her graduation ceremony in Leeds this November.
