Kenya Airways Prioritizes Nigeria, Rewards Trade Partners

Kenya Airways has reaffirmed its commitment to the Nigerian market and its strategy to boost capacity and connectivity between Nigeria and Kenya, and beyond, through its hub in Nairobi.

Speaking at a colourful dinner and award celebration to recognise and appreciate travel trade and industry partners who have collaborated and worked closely with the airline over the past year, the Country Manager, Mr James Nganga, acknowledged their role in ensuring the airline’s impressive performance in the market.

“We are enhancing our connectivity out of Lagos. We are also supporting more businesses in Kenya because we believe there are many opportunities. We are promoting Kenya as a holiday destination and, more recently, as a medical destination in partnership with Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya,” he remarked.

The General Manager, West Africa and Americas, Mr Stephen Ngamau, noted that Kenya Airways has a commitment to Service and plans to invest more in the Nigerian market in terms of Capacity and connectivity, adding that with effect from the coming week, the airline will start operating the Dreamliner service six (6) times weekly to Lagos.

He further disclosed that KQ plans to launch flights to Abuja in the near future and is exploring partnership opportunities with local Nigerian Airlines to connect passengers to various parts of the country.

He also noted that with KQ Holidays, the airline hopes to drive more leisure travel into Kenya.

The Chief Commercial and Customer Officer of Kenya Airways, Mr Julius Thairu, said: “Today is a very important day because we are celebrating the success of the partnership we have with our trade partners here in Nigeria. A significant part of our business is done through our trade partners. They are the ones who interface with customers and sell and tell customers about Kenya Airways ‘ products, whether it’s to Nairobi or to other parts of Africa. So they are a critical part of the ecosystem.”

Mr Isaac Keen Parashina, the Kenyan Ambassador to Nigeria, said: “Nigeria is a very important market, and Kenya Airways, the pride of Africa, is the bridge between Kenya and Nigeria. It’s been mentioned that over the last year, there has been an increase in visitors to Kenya due to the visa-free policy, which allows Nigerians to visit for 60 days without a visa. This is what Kenya stands for when it comes to matters of integration of our continent.”

He added that “Kenya believes that this starts with the free movement of people. And we also believe that for that to happen, for people to be able to move from one place to another in a visa-free community, you must have an infrastructure that enables you to move people from one place and connect them to other destinations, which Kenya Airways provides.”

Also lending his voice to KQ’s partnership with Aga Khan University Hospital, Ambassador Parashina said it is a premier hospital not just for training but also for medical services and pledged support for its activities.

Pauline Ngatia, Partnerships Director, Aga Khan University Hospital, explained that the hospital is a 300-bed not-for-profit institution, a teaching hospital with 54 medical centres, adding that it has accommodation for patients at subsidised rates.

The pinnacle of the event was the presentation of Awards and Certificates of Recognition to deserving travel agents and tour operators for their contributions and outstanding performance in driving the airline’s growth in the market.
Some of the more prominent and innovative awards presented to deserving agents and tour operators include: Best Asante Awards won by Bon Voyage Travels; Best Selling Agent Middle East & Africa by 247 Travels; Best Selling Agent Europe & America by Wakanow; Best Group Support Agents jointly won by Luchia Travels and Mardis Travels; as well as The Overall Best Seller Intra Africa Awards also won by Wakanow.

Other unique awards were; Rising Star Award by Cinderella Travel & Tours Ltd.; Overall Best Seller Tour Operator Award by Tour Brokers International (TBI); Best Seller to Destination Kenya by Wakanow; Top Driving Corporate Revenue Awards which went to FCM Travel in 3rd Place, BTM Travels in 2nd place and American Express Global Travels in 1st place; Best Overall Business Class Performing Agent won also by Wakanow; as well as Best Revenue Performing Agent with Satguru Travel & Tours in 3rd place, 247 Travels in 2nd place, and Wakanow once again in 1st place.

Wole Shadare