Africa World Airlines gets IOSA certification

(3rd on the right) Mr. Raphael Kuuchi, IATA Vice President for Africa presenting the certificate to  Mr. Samuel Thompson, Chief Operations Officer of AWA (2nd on the left) in Accra, Ghana on the 16  March, 2016 while the Area Manager West Africa for IATA Mr. Samson Fatokun (2nd on the right) and other officials look on

Africa World Airlines (AWA) has joined airlines around the world with the enviable IOSA Certification. After an intensive and rigorous process, AWA received the International Operational Safety Audit Programme (IOSA) certificate from IATA.  

Mr. Raphael Kuuchi, International Air Transport Association (IATA) Vice President for Africa presented the certificate to  Mr. Samuel Thompson, Chief Operations Officer of the airline in Accra, Ghana on the 16  March, 2016.

In his speech during the presentation IATA Vice President for Africa Mr. Kuuchi  said  the IOSA Certification is not mandatory for airlines but it is a  safety and security audit.  “it is a safety and security audit programme run by IATA globally. It is not mandatory, it is voluntary. But for the airlines that adopt it, it enhances their safety and operational effectiveness. It is a compilation of industry best practices and safety, and so we encourage all airlines to get it. Airlines that are IOSA-registered have the highest level of safety compared to the ones that are not IOSA.”

“What this means for AWA is recognised as one of the over-400 airlines with the highest safety hallmark or credentials. Many airlines that are IOSA-registered around the world will be seeking to do business with airlines who are also IOSA-registered. AWA now has to take advantage of this and get out there to try and work with other partner airlines that are IOSA-certified and try and grow their networks,” Kuuchi concluded.

In his response, the COO of the airline said, “with the IOSA certification, customers can have comfort knowing that an IOSA-registered airline actually complies with the stringent standards and practices governing aviation safety. “The IOSA certification also opens doors for alliances and partnerships with other IOSA registered Airlines. It also puts AWA on the map for good business opportunities,”  

In attendance at the event were   Minister of Transport for Ghana, Mrs. Dzifa Ativor, Area Manager West Africa for IATA Mr. Samson Fatokun,   Officials from China Africa Development (CAD) Fund, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Social Security and National Insurance Trust, South Africa Airlines and Emirate, Ghana Airport Company Limited and Zenith Bank, Ghana .

With its operational base in Accra Ghana, Africa World Airlines Limited (AWA) is a Ghanaian registered private-sector company formed with the sole vision of making air travel an option for majority of travelers within the markets in which it operates. AWA currently operates to Lagos, Nigeria. Also to Kumasi and Tamale all in Ghana with other routes coming soon.