Miss Strand 1997 flying high

Dubai-based airline, Emirates, starts a new route flying to and from Cape Town at the end of this month. The airline will fly daily non-stop to and from Cape Town International Airport. On board the first flight, landing in Cape Town on 30 March, will be senior flight stewardess, Marilee Vermaak (26), Miss Strand High School 1997. She was also Miss Helderberg and Miss Junior Western Cape. Marilee has lived in Dubai for five years. She is part of the "Face of Emirates" promotions group, used by the airline for promotional work. Her parents, Gideon and Cor-Maré, live in the Strand. The rest of the flight crew include 12 South Africans, with 3 in the cockpit. Captain Chris Rademan is originally from Kroonstad. He joined the SAAF in 1971. In 1978 he joined SAA. This was followed by a move to Singapore Airlines in 1997 and Emirates in 1999. Cape Town is Emirates 100th destination.