Qantas passenger’s huge boarding shock before flying from Sydney to Hong Kong
The oldest passenger to fly with Qantas was left stunned after her plane erupted in cheers and applause during her flight to Hong Kong.
103-year-old Ngan Chun Kam, also known as ‘Mamma’, was celebrated by the pilot, cabin crew and her fellow passengers on board the QF127 flight from Sydney on November 3.
From her business class seat, Ms. Kam received a special welcome announcement from the pilot, which ended with cheers from across the plane.
The great-grandmother was born in January 1920, just months before Australia’s flagship airline was founded the following November.
Qantas customer service representative Jayson Eng told Ny Breaking Australia it was an “honour” to host the oldest passenger in the airline’s history.
“We kick-started her journey with a special welcome announcement from the captain, which was broadcast throughout the aircraft,” he said.
‘Everyone on board gave her a big round of applause. Our crew enjoyed taking turns introducing themselves to Mrs. Kam and we called her Po Po (Grandma in Cantonese) as a sign of respect for her. It was a pleasure to have her on board.”
A beaming Ms Kam was pictured earlier this month posing with her boyfriend John and more than 20 flight attendants on the special flight.
103-year-old Ngan Chun Kam (pictured), also known as ‘Mamma’, was celebrated by the pilot, cabin crew and her fellow passengers on board the QF127 flight from Sydney to Hong Kong
A beaming Ms Kam is pictured posing with her boyfriend John and more than 20 Qantas flight attendants on the special flight from Sydney to Hong Kong earlier this month
Ms. Kam’s daughter-in-law Helen explained that the older woman was initially a little confused about the cheering because she did not speak English.
After explaining that this was because she was the oldest passenger to fly with Qantas, she said Ms Kam had felt “so special”.
The great-grandmother, who flew business class, also received a goodie bag from the airline containing champagne and Qantas merchandise.
Ms Kam visits Sydney every year to spend time with her son Dennis, 81, who lives in Sydney with his wife Helen and their children.
She also has a daughter in Canada and three sons living in Hong Kong.
Ms Kam and her three sons all live in apartments bought by her late husband, a “far-sighted businessman” who died in 1999.
The couple married when Mrs. Kam was 19 years old and had six children, ages 72 to 83. She now has thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Helen attributes the elderly woman’s longevity to her love of fishing and her daily walks to the fresh food market near her home in Hong Kong.