ZANZIBAR, March 15 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) has been recognised by the Airports Council International (ACI) as one of the best in Africa in the category of the Airports Services Quality (ASQ) 2023.
The good news was announced by the Director General (DG) of the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA), Seif Abdalla Juma, saying AAKIA has been honoured with the prestigious award for best airport under two million passengers annually in Africa.
The official recognition was made by ACI last Monday. Airports Council International is an organisation of airport authorities aimed at uniting industry practices for airport standards. Established in 1991, its headquarters are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, The ASQ award recognises airports with the top 20 per cent overall satisfaction score by size and region at departure.
“This is a milestone in the development of our airport. We are happy for the award,” Juma explained.
Launched in 2006, ASQ is the world’s leading airport passenger satisfaction programme with over 400 participating airports in 109 countries.
The esteemed ASQ award, administered by ACI, underscores excellence in airport services, as evaluated through comprehensive passenger surveys and data analysis conducted at departure and arrival areas worldwide.
The DG said that the AAKIA’s commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction led to its participation in the ACI’s ASQ Departure programme in October 2022.
“This initiative aimed to elevate the quality of services provided to passengers, culminating in the establishment of a dedicated customer service team,” he said.
He said that under the guidance of ACI, this team underwent rigorous training to conduct passenger surveys and assess their feedback on airport services.
Juma said in a statement that in the first quarter of 2023, ZAA’s efforts yielded commendable results, with AAKIA ranking among the top five airports in Africa for the Best Overall Airport Experience category, outperforming 17 other airports in the region.
ZAA, according to the director general, is expected to receive the prestigious award from ACI at the World Annual Customer Experience Summit and Exhibition, scheduled for September 25th, this year in Atlanta, USA.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi, for his unwavering support in fostering collaborations with international organisations and industry leaders in airport operations and services,” Juma said.
Head of the Public Relations Unit, ZAA, Mulhat Yussuf Said also joined her boss to commend Dr Mwinyi, saying “His visionary leadership has ushered in transformative advancements in Zanzibar’s aviation sector.”
Furthermore, they extended their sincere appreciation to all public and private sector employees for their dedication, patriotism and tireless efforts in ensuring seamless operation of domestic and international airlines at the airports.
Mulhat said “We also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of stakeholders in the aviation and tourism sectors. ZAA remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, with a vision to emerge as a leader in delivering exceptional airport services in Africa by 2027.” — NNN-AGENCIES
