BIODUN AKOMOLAFE
Arik Air has added another laurels to its many awards as it was bestowed with the West African Airline of the Year at the Ghana Aviation Awards 2016 held in Accra on Friday, July 29, 2016.
The award, according to Ghana Aviation Awards Events Director, Richard Abbey Jnr, was conferred on the Nigerian airline because of its achievement in airline business leadership and commitment to safety.
The impressive award ceremony held at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra was a gathering of who is who among aviation personalities in West Africa and a celebration of excellence in the industry.
The West African Airline of the Year Award is a crowning glory for Arik Air’s eight years of operation in Ghana and the rest of the region which began with the inauguration of flights to Accra in January 2008.
The airline is the first African carrier to create a hub at Kotoka International Airport, Accra where flights from Lagos and Abuja arrive into Accra within a few minutes of each other and then depart onwards to other West African cities from Accra non-stop.
Arik Air operates to six cities non-stop from Accra which include, Freetown (3 weekly), Banjul (4 weekly), Dakar (3 weekly), Monrovia (3 weekly), Lagos (3 times daily) and Abuja (daily).
Speaking on the award, Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Suraj Sundaram said: “This year marks the tenth anniversary celebration for Arik Air as the largest airline operating in West and Central Africa, so it is very encouraging to receive this award which demonstrates the increasing recognition not only from the travelling public but also from industry partners. We are still a young company and we see ourselves as a major contributor to the economies of West African states by continually improving and expanding our service offering in the region”.
