The citation has just been made by the Airports Council International (ACI) which groups registered airports to conduct surveys on service quality and customer experience, made this affirmation in a statement at the start of the week.
It said that Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award administers by ACI, classifying best airports by size and region, for under two million annual passengers, Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar) came on top, followed by Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo, the Malagasy capital) and Moi International Airport in Mombasa, across the border to the north of Tanga.
Seif Abdalla Juma, the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) director general, unveiled this honour at a press conference here yesterday, saying that it was declared on Monday
ZAA expects to receive the prestigious award from ACI at the annual customer experience summit and exhibition set for September 25 in the Georgian state capital of Atlanta, in the United States.
The director praised efforts by President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi in fostering collaboration with international organizations and industry leaders in airport operations and services. “His visionary leadership has ushered in transformative advancements in Zanzibar's aviation sector,” he stated.
He similarly extended his recognition of public and private sector employees in the industry for their dedication in ensuring seamless operations of domestic and international airlines at the key airport.
“We also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of stakeholders in the aviation and tourism sectors,” he remarked, asserting that the award underscores excellence in airport services.
The service quality is evaluated through comprehensive passenger surveys and data analysis conducted at departure and arrival areas worldwide,” he explained.
AAKIA's commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction led to its participation in the ACI's ASQ Departure program in October 2022, he said, setting out the background scenario up to clinching this award.
ASQ participation was meant to elevate the quality of services provided to passengers, culminating in setting up a dedicated customer service team. “Under the guidance of ACI, this team underwent rigorous training to conduct passenger surveys and assess their feedback on airport services,” he elaborated.
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.
“As we look ahead, the Zanzibar Airports Authority remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, with a vision to emerge as a leader in delivering exceptional airport services in Africa by 2027,” he added.
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