BRITISH AIRWAYS FIRST CHOICE FOR ZIMBABWE TRAVEL AGENTS, AGAIN

Airline scoops ‘Best regional carrier’ second year in a row

Johannesburg, October 7, 2009: For the second consecutive year, travel agents in Zimbabwe have unanimously chosen British Airways (operated by Comair Limited) as their preferred airline.  The ‘Best Regional Carrier’ award was awarded to BA by the Association for Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA) in its annual and highly respected AZTA awards.

Sharing the top-spot with Kenya Airways - SAA was voted third - the award is testament to British Airways’ sustained winning streak. In 2008, over and above the AZTA award, the airline scooped the Ask Africa Orange Index and ACSA Feather Awards, while this year, Sunday Times Top Brand endorsed them as the Business to Business category winner.

Heidi Brauer, Executive Manager: Group Marketing for Comair Limited says, “British Airways (operated by Comair Limited) strives to deliver excellent service. So, to be endorsed by our peers is of major significance and indicates Zimbabwe’s trade confidently recommend us to their clients.”

Yet, it is not only Zimbabwe’s travel agents who think British Airways (operated by Comair Limited) are doing a good job. Their customers do too. Based on annual aggregate results from monthly in-flight ad hoc surveys, 83 percent said they were satisfied overall with BA, 73 percent said they found it delivered good value for money, 82 percent were likely to travel with BA again and 79 percent would recommend the airline to others.

“Given that the trade are our indirect customers, this feedback is valuable as it benchmarks what we are doing right and where we need to up our game,” says Brauer.  “If we want to continue winning awards, it is imperative we listen to our customers and adapt according to their needs.”

Inaugurated in 1992, the AZTA awards are based on the country’s travel agents’ annual votes across various categories from “Best Regional Airline” to “Best Travel Agent”.

ENDS