A total of 33 companies and individuals were recognized at the maiden National Aviation Industry Awards, a benchmark of airline and aviation excellence, which came off last weekend at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra.
The event which brought together over 160 industry professionals was graced by Dzifa Gomashie, Deputy Minister of Tourism , Creative Arts and Culture; Simon Allotey, Director General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Other dignitaries were Dr. Samson Fatokun, West Africa Area Manager of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); and the Chief of Aburi, Otubour Nana Kwesi Djan.
The National Aviation Awards recognizes distinctions exhibited in every classification of the aviation industry.
These categories are wide ranging and stretches from domestic and international airline operators, to service providers, travel and tourism companies, insurance and supportive financial institutions, local airports and many more.
The 2016 Awards is themed on recognizing the cream of Ghana’s aviation industry and the unsung heroes of change over the years are recognized at the Aviation Awards.
The winners are: Aviation Company of the Year, KLM Royal Dutch Airline; Airline Operator of the Year, Kenya Airways; Africa Airline of the Year, Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise; Best Aviation Online Payment, GT Bank (Ghana); Aviation Portal of the Year, Wakanow; and Aviation Institution of the Year, International Travel And Tourism Institute (ITTI).
Other are Aviation Technology Achievement Award, Amadeus IT Group; Best Customer Service Award, Emirates Airlines; Promising Aviation Company of the Year, Aviation Profile And Security Services; Latex Foam Corporate Social Responsibility Award, Delta Air Lines Ghana; and Country Manager Of The Year, Axel Metselaar (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines).
Brand of the Year, Turkish Airlines, Accra; Aviation Cargo Transporter Award of the Year, Emirates Airlines; Aviation Professional of the Year, Akosua Okyere Nyarko; Domestic Airline of the Year, Africa World Airlines; Marketing Campaign of the Year, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; Aviation Service Company of the Year, Aviance Ghana; and Logistics Company of the Year, Consolidated Shipping Agencies Ltd (Conship).
More incluce Aviation Travel Company of the Year, Stellar Travel; Aviation Tourism Award, Kenpong Travel and Tours; International Airline of the Year, Delta Air Lines-Ghana; Promising Airline of the Year, Asky Airlines; and Aviation Unsung Heroes Award – J.T Amoah.
The industry gurus were also conferred with special recognitions. The Aviation Leadership Award went to Air Commodore Victor Kwame Mamphey; West African Airline of the Year, Arik Air; Excellence In Health, Safety, Environment & Quality Award, Africa World Airlines; and Aviation Personality of the Year, Kennedy Agyepong (Kenpong Travel & Tours).
CEO of the Year went to Jacky Hathiramani (Dana Air); Indigenous Company of the Year, Mcdan Shipping Company Limited; Aviation Insurance Company of the Year, SIC Insurance Company; Pioneering Excellence In Domestic Airlines, Alhaji Dr. Asoma Banda; and Entrepreneur of the Year, Dr. Daniel Mckorley (Mcdan Shipping Company Limited).
Richard Abbey Jnr, Events Director at Xodus Communications Limited, the event organizer, said: “this industry gathering and networking forum champions excellence and improve business relationships.”
The Awards, endorsed by the Ministry of Transport seeks to streamline the provision of good customer service and create awareness for the depth of hard work and due diligence that goes into providing safe and secure compliant travel behind the scenes of the industry.
Dr. Samson Fatokun reiterated the need for credibility and integrity to make the Award attractive for the industry to participate every year.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism encouraged the winners to use the opportunity to promote tourism and peace especially in an election year.