LAGOS – The International Air Transport Association (IATA), has indicated willingness to collaborate with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria especially in the area of technology to enhance passenger comfort.
A statement by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, said that Mr. Kamil Alawadhi, the Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East, IATA, canvassed this position on Tuesday, when the team paid Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) a courtesy visit at the agency’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
The statement hinted that Alawadhi acknowledged the present administration’s significant improvements made at Nigerian airports and commended FAAN’s commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, security, and passenger experience.
He also 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.
Alawadhi stressed 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.
Alawadhi led a five-man delegation of senior IATA officers, which included Dr. Samson Fatokun; Area Manager for West & Central Africa, Mr. Kashif Khan; Director of Operations, Safety and Security for Africa and the Middle East, Mr. Mamadou Guebre; Regional Manager, Customer Experience & Passenger Facilitation and Jennifer (Aisha) Yeates; Assistant Director Operational Safety at IATA Africa and Middle East (AME).
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In her response, Kuku emphasised that the continuous improvement of security protocols was a top priority for FAAN under her leadership, particularly in an evolving global aviation landscape where safety is paramount.
She emphasised FAAN’s determination to adopt advanced security technologies and processes that protect passengers and streamline their airport experience.
She insisted that FAAN was focused on making the airports more passenger-centric by improving customer service, eliminating complex check-in procedures, thereby reducing passenger facilitation time, and enhancing airport facilities.
Kuku also called for closer collaboration between FAAN and IATA, urging that both organisations meet more regularly.
She sought IATA’s assistance in traffic development and any other areas necessary to ensure the success of FAAN’s operations and the sustainable growth of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
She assured the IATA’s team that FAAN was fully committed to implementing its recommendations, ensuring that Nigerian airports continued to meet international benchmarks.
Other members of the FAAN management team present to receive the visitors were Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood; the Director of Airport Operations and Mr. Hycienth Ngwu, General Manager, Business Development, among others.
