BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
A partnership aimed at deepening passenger experience at Nigerian airports and generally promoting sustainable growth in the aviation industry has been forged between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Leading the push for a more mutually-beneficial relationship is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Mrs Kuku.
At a meeting with the Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East of IATA, Mr Kamil Alawadhi, the FAAN boss said there was more to leverage between both parties.
Mr Alawadhi led a five-man delegation of senior IATA officers, which included the Area Manager for West & Central Africa, Dr Samson Fatokun; Director of Operations, Safety and Security for Africa and the Middle East, Mr Kashif Khan; the Regional Manager, Customer Experience & Passenger Facilitation, Mr Mamadou Guebre and Jennifer (Aisha) Yeates ,
Assistant Director Operational Safety at IATA Africa and Middle East (AME)
In his remarks, Mr Alawadhi acknowledged the incumbent administration’s significant improvements made at Nigerian airports and praised FAAN’s commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, security, and passenger experience.
He underscored the importance of leveraging technology to upgrade security processes, such as checkpoint management, and expressed IATA’s interest in collaborating with FAAN on these initiatives.
He highlighted IATA’s preference for utilising digital solutions to enhance passenger facilitation and improve information sharing between various agencies at the airport, which would contribute to operational efficiency and overall improved passenger experience.
In her response, Mrs. Kuku emphasised that the continuous enhancement of security protocols is a top priority for FAAN under her leadership, especially in an ever-evolving global aviation landscape where safety is paramount.
She articulated FAAN’s commitment to adopting advanced security technologies and processes designed to protect passengers while streamlining their airport experience.
Mrs. Kuku highlighted FAAN’s focus on creating a more passenger-centric environment by improving customer service, simplifying check-in procedures, reducing passenger facilitation time, and enhancing airport facilities.
She also called for closer collaboration between FAAN and IATA, advocating for more frequent meetings between the two organizations.
Additionally, she sought IATA’s support in traffic development and other critical areas essential for the success of FAAN’s operations and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Assuring her guests of FAAN’s dedication, she confirmed that the organization is fully committed to implementing IATA’s recommendations, ensuring that Nigerian airports consistently meet international standards.
In response, Vice-President Alawadhi pledged IATA’s continued support for FAAN.
Other members of the FAAN management team present to welcome the visitors included the Director of Airport Operations, Captain Abdullahi Mahmood, and General Manager of Business Development, Mr. Hycienth Ngwu, among others.
