Arik Wins Best Airline In W/Africa

Arik Air has been
awarded the best Airline in West Africa at the annual Akaaba African Travel Market awards / dinner held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos on Sunday.
The organizers 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 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 African Tourism emerged the best tourism marketing company in Africa and the best Hotel in West Africa was won by four point by Sheraton.
Others include the biggest hotel chain in Africa, which was taken home by Protea Hotel, Lacampagne 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 hotel manager among others.
Also, 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 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 recognizing 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.
Mr Uko noted that the impact of Ebola on the industry was so devastating that hotel occupancy rate had to even drop from 30 to 28 per cent.