SAA wins top African airline award

South African Airways (SAA) has been named the Top African Airline at the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market, highlighting its significant role in Africa's aviation and travel sector. The prestigious award, bestowed upon the airline during the three-day event, was decided through voting by industry professionals and general public participation.

Ikechi Uko, the publisher of African Travel Quarterly and founder of Akwaaba Travel Market, highlighted the recognition as a testament to SAA's ongoing contribution to the travel industry. The accolade is part of the Top 100 Travel Icons in Nigeria, celebrating excellence in travel.

SAA's victory extends beyond mere aircraft, routes, and passenger numbers. At the event, the airline demonstrated its commitment to collaboration by sponsoring four travel-agent and tour-operator partners—Fare Deal Travel & Tours, Vacation Places Limited, 3Cords Leisure & Vacation, and OCI Travel & Tours—as co-exhibitors at its booth. These partners had previously visited Mauritius with SAA's financial support, gaining firsthand experience of local hotels, attractions, and tourism offerings.

The recipients of the SAA-sponsored familiarization trip shared their appreciation for the gesture, noting that the experience had improved their ability to advise clients and boost sales to Mauritius. Oluwayemisi Kpote, a travel consultant with 3Cords Travels, expressed her satisfaction with the seamless facilitation of the trip, stating that SAA partners were better equipped to promote Mauritius to potential customers.

Similarly, Olubusola Afolabi, head of operations at OCI Travels & Tours, emphasized the positive impact the Famtrip had on her team's interactions with clients, resulting in increased sales to the destination.

The airline's partnership with these travel agents is viewed as a promising development, with both parties anticipating mutual benefits from the collaboration. The Akwaaba market, organized by Ikechi Uko, who is also the publisher of African Travel Quarterly and the founder of Akwaaba Travel Market, further showcased SAA's commitment to fostering relationships within the industry.

The airline's sponsorship of four travel agents as co-exhibitors at its booth demonstrated a strategic approach to engaging with both business-to-business and consumer audiences at the event.