…As carrier gets international recognition
No sooner Dana Air was named a member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) than foreign airlines started rushing over one another to enter into interlining and codeshare agreements with the Nigerian flag carrier.
This was disclosed by the Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo during the official presentation of the membership certificate of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the airline in Lagos.
Mbanuzuo assured the airline’s teeming guests of its commitment to continuously raising the bar of its operational efficiency as an airline model that guarantees sustainability and professionalism in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The Accountable Manager said Dana Air has and will continue to maintain global best practices in the aviation industry while still churning out world-class initiatives to exceed the flying aspirations of its ever-increasing membership of the airlines’ loyalty program –Dana Miles.
‘’Since becoming an IATA member, we have received a barrage of requests for interline and code-share agreements and we can’t wait to take our unrivaled services in Nigeria to the global stage. Dana Air remains uncompromising in its commitment to maintaining global best practices and as always, we will continue to churn out world-class initiatives to meet and exceed the flying aspirations of our teeming guests.’’
On the airlines’ fleet and route expansion plans, Obi said ‘’our decisions are strategic and is very difficult to forecast in this part of the world, but I can confirm to you that we have commenced talks with some notable aircraft manufacturers and we should increase our fleet in no distant time. Even with our current capacity, we are doing very well and have a strategy to meet the demands of the flying public.’’
Speaking further Obi said ‘’we are very confident of our model as presently we are the only Nigerian carrier to have undergone an operational audit conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and its foreign partners, The Flight Safety Group. We also scaled the IATA Operational Safety Audit IOSA and we wish to assure our guests that we are not resting on our oars as commitment to professionalism is unwavering’’
Also speaking at the event, IATA’s Area Manager, South-West, Dr Samson Fatokun, said not all airlines are members of IATA as a result of its stringent admission process but commended Dana Air for making the list and joining over 300 airlines presently on the association’s registry.
“We have requirements for any airline that wants to join the to the IATA family and one of that requirement is that they must pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and this has kept most of them back. IATA comes with a requirement of quality and people expect the airline to operate with recommended standards of aviation globally. We commend Dana Air for this feat and hope that they will keep up the good work’’
Having flown over 2.7 million passengers in the last 9 years of its operation, Nigeria is one of Nigeria’s leading airlines with daily flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri. The airline is reputed for its unrivaled on time performance and world –class in-flight service.
