JKIA named best improved airport in Africa

Posted by Jambo 

JKIA has been named the best-improved airport in the 2015 Airport Service Quality Awards.

“The airport emerged winner in the Best Improved in what is considered as the aviation industry’s most comprehensive passenger service-benchmarking program,” KAA Managing Director said in a statement on Tuesday.

Yatich Kagungo said the recognition by the Airports Council International was timely as the airport is undergoing major upgrading and modernisation works.

The airport, which handles an estimated 6.5 million passengers annually, was ranked 5th Best Airport in Africa, 2014, during the ASQ Awards last year.

Kagungo said the airport expects further growth going forward as more capacity is unlocked through the expansion which will stamp its position as a regional hub.

The airport met the threshold required for a category one status after an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation in September 2014.

KAA spent nearly Sh9 billion to build Terminal 1 (previously Terminal 4) and fabricated Terminal 2. The government also invested Sh1.3 billion in new security equipment.

“The stature of JKIA has grown significantly in recent years with increased passengers and cargo traffic into and out of the facility,” Kagungo said.

“It will improve level of service, security and controlled access to meet international standards.”

South Africa’s Upington was listed “Best Regional Airport in Africa”, while Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius was Best Airport in Africa.

Durban International Airport and Cape Town International Airport took second place, while OR Tambo International Airport was ranked third best under the Best Airport in Africa category.

Over 320 airports across 80 countries participate in the ASQ survey, which measures passengers’ satisfaction while at the airport.

Passengers are interviewed before boarding their flight, with 600,000 interviewees annually.

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