Sam Chui

I fly from Nairobi to Juba in the cockpit of Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800, arriving in South Sudan, the world’s youngest and poorest country. Without aviation, the country simply stops.

I follow the Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800 pilots in the cockpit on a short but high-workload flight into one of Africa’s most challenging aviation environments. Upon arrival, I’m surprised to find Juba Airport packed with fascinating aircraft.

My host for this journey is the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). While Juba appears calm on the surface, the security situation remains complex, and photography is heavily restricted. With the support of the UN and the country’s media department, I was granted special permission to document aviation operations on the ground.

The next morning, my aviation adventure truly begins. Aircraft of all types line up at Juba Airport, ready to depart. I soon learn why — South Sudan is the single largest operating theatre of UNHAS, the world’s largest humanitarian air service run by the UN World Food Programme.

✈️ Why is aviation in South Sudan so unique?

* The country has only about 200 km of paved roads
* During the rainy season, many roads become completely impassable
* Aviation doesn’t complement transport here — it replaces roads
* Humanitarian flights far outnumber commercial services
In short: Without aviation, South Sudan stops.

Here, flying is not a luxury — it is essential for survival and development. But aviation in South Sudan also faces serious challenges. I encounter evidence of past aircraft accidents, abandoned airplanes on airfields, and learn that airspace above 24,000 feet is uncontrolled — adding further complexity to operations.

👉 In the next episode, I follow the UN World Food Programme teams deeper into the country, witnessing firsthand how aviation delivers food, medical aid, and hope to some of the most remote communities on Earth. Don’t miss it — this is aviation at its most critical.

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.