Slok Wins Travellers Award Amid Ban
Stories by Ndubuisi Francis
Still being held down by the controversial revocation of its operating licence, Slok Air has been named the fastest gowing airline for the 2003 Travellers Award.
Reminiscent of the what happened during the Abacha era when the award committee unanimously agreed to present British Airways with an award despite its ban by the Nigerian government, the committee has once again decided to present the runners-up of the fastest growing airline awards in 2003 to Slok.
According to Mrs Fatima Garbati, the President of National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and Vice Chairperson of the Award Committee who stood in for Ms. Boma Bromillow-Jack, former Minister of Culture & Tourism, this year's award has been more transparent as the internet was used to collect votes from the public and the votes were vetted by the Award Committee before the winners were chosen.
With four aircraft on the ground, although two were not recognised, Slok acquired the highest number of aircraft within a year, a situation that the Committee decided to commend.
The award for the fastest growing domestic airline was however given to Sosoliso Airline with four aircraft in two years. Sololiso defeated Overland and Slok for this award. In the 2002 edition of Travellers Award, Sosoliso was chosen for the Route Development Award, an award it has retained for pioneering the Port Harcourt Abuja and Enugu-Owerri-Abuja routes along with its flights to Makurdi. ADC Airlines' flight to Yola and Sokoto and Overland's flights to Akure, Ibadan and Bauchi came second and third respectively.
Travelers Award is an annual award for airlines, hotels and allied sectors in Nigeria and is now at its 8th edition.
Some of the awards will be presented to the winners in their offices while the major awards of airline of the Year (International, Domestic and Propellers) along with Hotel of the Year, Tourism Governor of the year will be presented at the one year anniversary of ATQ Magazine, organisers of the award at Sheraton Lagos Hotel & Towers in October.
Meanwhile, in a keenly contested race for the Best Business Class in Nigeria, Virgin Atlantic breasted the tape ahead of British Airways Club World, Lufthansa and KLM Business Class to win this year's Travellers Award.
According to the Vice Chairperson of the Award Committee, Mrs. Fatima Garbati "this was one of the most keenly contested awards based on the results from the internet, infact they all deserve to win but the committee has to settle for a winner."
Another keenly contested award is the International Airline of the year between British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The result of the winner will be released in October during the one year anniversary of ATQ magazine at Sheraton Lagos Hotel & towers along with other high profile awards.
Iberia Airlines, the new returnee from Spain was given a special commendation award for its decision to come back to Nigeria after ten years.
While Virgin won another award for having the highest number of Nigerians as cabin crew, 37 in number, British Airways had no competitor in the very important Community Support Award because of its various investments in the Nigerian people with its multimillion naira project at Kuje Science Primary School, Abuja, its Traditional Birth Assistance programmes at Sari Iganmu and Ilaje Bariga in Lagos worth 735,000 pounds (N151 million).
The Committee decided a special trophy be presented to British Airways for these gestures and support for its community.
British Airways alongside KLM emerged as the Best Airline to America. British Airways also grabbed the Best Airline to West Indies and the Best First class.
Contrary to expectations Air France and Virgin were rated as the Airlines with the Best Economy Class.
British Airways and Lufthansa won the Airline Innovation Awards for the revolutionary e-ticket service and the Book easy Pay easy and Fly easy programme. Lufthansa's patient Transport Compartment (The Sick Bay on Board) was highly rated as commendable deserving the Award. The innovation Award is to encourage high quality service on the Nigerian routes.
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