Arik Awarded Best Airline in W/Africa

 Arik Air has been crowned the best airline in West Africa at the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market awards/dinner held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos on Sunday.

The organisers of the award said the process leading to the choice of Arik Air as the best airline in West Africa was painstaking and the airline has become a pride to Nigerians.

The award was presented by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa to Arik Air’s Senior Vice President Finance, Rajan Nambiar.

 

It was a convergence of stakeholders in the African travel and tourism sector as Akwaaba has become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing 7,000 to 10,000 visitors from over 20 countries.

Similarly, Ethiopian Airlines emerged African airline of the year; the airline also won the best African airline to West Africa,  while the country's airport, the Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa won the most passenger friendly airport in East Africa.

In other award categories, South Africa Tourism emerged the best tourism marketing company in Africa and the best Hotel in West Africa was won by Four Point by Sheraton.

Others included, the biggest hotel chain in African, which was taken home by Protea Hotel, La Campagne Tropicana, Ikegun emerged the best beach resort in West Africa, Obudu Mountain Resort won the best resort in West Africa, Calabar Carnival won the best carnival while Mr. Adrian Landry won the best hotel manager among others.

At the event, Capt. Irene Koki Mutungi was honoured by Women in Aviation (Nigeria) International-Glowing Wings Chapter in partnership with Akwaaba.

According to the President of Women in Aviation (Nigeria), Mrs. Ifeyinwa  Megwa, the association decided to honour  Capt. Mutungi because she has accomplished a feat no female has ever attained in Africa.

She noted that in honouring her,  "we are not only recognising her for being exceptional, we hope this will encourage more females to reach extraordinary heights in their aviation careers and also encourage young women to consider aviation as a career too."

In her response, Mutungi said she is setting up a foundation that would help to encourage young girls to come into the aviation industry.

Capt. Mutungi is the first Woman in the World to captain the World’s newest Plane -the Boeing B787 Dreamliner.
Speaking earlier at the opening of the fair, Mr. Ikechi Uko attributed the low turnout of exhibitors to the devastating blow of the Ebola Virus Disease on the travel and tourism industry in West Africa.

Uko explained that the hall which supposed to be used as the venue was demarcated as a result of last minute withdrawals by participating countries and companies.

He said exhibitors from Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and other West African countries had to withdraw on account of Ebola.

Uko noted that the impact of Ebola on the industry was so devastating that hotel occupancy rate had to even drop from 20 to 28 per cent.

According to him, "We at Akwaaba at a time were contemplating on the best option either to cancel or postpone the event, but we have to go ahead with the event despite Ebola fear, thank God Nigeria is free from the disease today."

In her opening remarks, during the awards, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi said that it is a great achievement that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Nigerian free from Ebola.

She stated that the feat of containing the disease is the best for the country.
Eyakenyi applauded the zeal of the organisers in putting up the show together which also attracted some countries like Rwanda, South Africa and other exhibitors despite the Ebola fears.

Speaking further, the Minister disclosed that the federal government has put measures in place to check the incidence of building collapse in the country.

Capt. Mutungi is the first Woman in the World to captain the World’s newest Plane -the Boeing B787 Dreamliner.