The Rip Tide
Returning home to Cameroon after almost a decade away was a mix of excitement and apprehension. As the plane descended, memories flooded back of childhood days spent in bustling markets and vibrant streets. This post is not about being in Cameroon, but the journey to get there.
Most Cameroonians, well, most Africans will tell you about the increasing costs of traveling back home from Europe, Asia, and America. Let me give you some reasons why. Firstly, fluctuating fuel prices have significantly impacted airline ticket prices, making air travel to Africa more expensive. As fuel costs increase, airlines naturally pass down these costs to passengers via higher fares, especially for long haul flights. Travelers coming from America can relate. More than half of the trip is over the Atlantic.
Secondly, infrastructure development and maintenance cost within African countries have contributed to the overall expense of traveling. While some countries boast modern airports and transportation networks, others cannot relate, leading to higher operational costs for airlines and travel companies. Once again, these costs are transferred to travelers via higher ticket fares.
Thirdly, stringent safety and security measures implemented by both African governments and international aviation authorities add to the costs of traveling, as compliance with these regulations require additional investments in equipment, training, and personnel.
Anyway, I boarded my flight to Cameroon December 20th last year. It was my first time flying with EgyptAir. Based on the previous paragraphs, you can infer as to why I decided to fly with them. Anyway, it was a beautiful plane. Boeing 787–9 Dreamliner, and it looked like it was just a few years old. The flight to Cairo would be about 10 hours and then another 5 hours flight to Douala, Cameroon sandwiched around a 4-hour layover.
It had been a long morning driving to the airport so I had made up my mind to spend that 10 hours by sleeping as much as I could. Of course, I woke up when it was time to eat. The food was great, good options, and nice portion sizes. Everything was normal, I went back to sleep after eating. It was an exceptionally smooth flight to Egypt.
10 hours later, we touched down in Cairo. I got lost so many times trying to find a lounge that would take my Priority Pass card. Finally found one and spent the next 3 hours there. They had some finger foods, snacks and non-alcoholics drinks and juices. Their guava juice was impeccable. Finally saw that the flight to Douala was boarding so I made my way to the gate.
The boarding process was very interesting. They split the us into two lines by gender for security checks. This took another hour to finish causing a late departure. When I walked into the plane, I was amazed. The plane looked aged like it was used during the 70’s. I made it to my seat and kept scanning the plane for further analysis. Such a stark contrast with the plane that left America. This plane lacked many of the basic amenities like personal TVs, power outlets, and reliable internet connections.
The absence of amenities was striking. While flights to/from other routes offer in-flight entertainment and the convenience of staying connected, flights to Africa often leave passengers disconnected from the digital world. It is a reminder of the technological disparities that persist between regions. Imagine traveling with kids, how do you keep them occupied and entertained. Three rows up from me was a man having an enjoyable time and taking selfies. He didn’t seem to be bothered about the rage that was going on in my head.
The discrepancy extends beyond the flight experience to the onboard cuisine. While traveling from the USA to Europe, passengers are treated to a diverse array of culinary delights. Yet, on flights to Africa, the food offerings pale in comparison. It’s ironic to consider that many of the spices that enhance dishes worldwide originate from Africa, yet the culinary experience onboard fails to reflect this richness.
Turbulence woke me up. We were over N’Djamena, Chad, which is about 2 hours from Douala by air. How I knew we where over N’Djamena was because the plane had these old monitors over the middle row which finally showed our location.
The irony about this entire experience was what happened when the planed touched down in Cameroon. It was a very smooth landing I must admit. Anyone who has ever traveled by air would tell you that when the plane lands, you remain in your seat until the plane reaches the gate and comes to a complete stop. As the plane landed and taxied towards the gate, some passengers got up from their seats, and hastily started retrieving their belongings from the overhead compartments. It was a chaotic atmosphere, and the flight attendants could not do anything because it risked their own safety. It was actually very fascinating, but not in a good way. In all my years of flying, I’d never seen something like that.
As I stood in line inside the humid airport in Douala waiting to have my passport stamped, I thought about the whole journey. The question I had in my mind prior to the scene when we landed was, “why does Africa always seem to get the shorter end of the stick?” Seems like I got my answer after all.
Why would airlines send their best planes to Africa when us Africans cannot properly behave on them?
Can’t have nice things if you don’t know how to fully appreciate it.
What are your thoughts? Drop it in the comments section.
Talk Soon,