South African Airways says it has strengthened relationships with travel partners in Nigeria as it hosted its top-performing agents at a networking and capacity-building forum held in Lagos.
The event, according to the airline, brought together leading travel agents, tourism stakeholders and aviation professionals in what the airline described as an appreciation and knowledge-sharing initiative aimed at improving service delivery and expanding business opportunities.
The airline disclosed this in a statement made available to The NGGOSSIPS over the weekend. At the forum, the airline honoured its top-performing agents with various raffle draws and shopping gift vouchers presented to lucky agents in recognition of their loyalty and resilience.
Speaking at the event, the Country Manager of South African Airways, Mrs Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, emphasised the central role played by travel agents in sustaining airline operations. She said, “We take our relationship with you, our trade partners, very seriously because we recognise the important role you play in the value chain of the travel industry. A great percentage of our business comes from your efforts. You are invaluable to us, and we do not take your partnership for granted.”
Leke-Bamtefa also apologised for operational disruptions experienced during the Christmas period, noting that the airline introduced two additional flights to manage passenger demand but still encountered challenges.
“We appreciate your patience, understanding and the highest level of professionalism you displayed throughout that busy period,’ she told the agents.
The Country Manager also introduced the airline’s new Sales Manager, Mrs Adetoun Fowode, whom she described as ‘an industry trade veteran with over 15 years of travel agency experience’, adding that her appointment would strengthen engagement between the airline and the Nigerian travel trade community.
Also addressing participants, the Regional Manager of South African Tourism, Mr Mohammed Tanko, showcased tourism opportunities across South Africa’s nine provinces under the campaign theme, ‘Come Find Your Joy’. He highlighted diverse destinations ranging from Cape Town and Mpumalanga to Limpopo, Sun City and the Eastern Cape, noting that travellers could experience “world-class resorts, cultural heritage, wildlife adventures and unique coastal destinations such as the Cape of St Francis, popularly called the Venice of Africa.”
Providing operational updates, Leke-Bamtefa disclosed that SAA recently expanded its route network with new services to Gaborone, launched on 4 November, and Cape Town–Mauritius flights, introduced in December 2025. She added that the airline had resumed its regular schedule of four weekly flights from Lagos, operating on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Responding to requests from agents for increased flight frequency from Lagos, she advised passengers to connect through Accra on days when direct Lagos services are unavailable. “South African Airways is renowned for safety and security, schedule integrity, a seamless travel experience with local expertise and competitive fares,” she assured.
She further encouraged travel agents to engage the airline on specialised travel requests. “Whenever you have group movements or tailored travel needs from your customers, please reach out to us. Collaboration is key to delivering better travel experiences,” she said.
Also, on visa-related concerns frequently raised by travellers, the Country Manager clarified that airlines do not influence visa issuance decisions. She urged agents to uphold professional standards when assisting clients, warning against abuse of the recently introduced e-visa system. “We must protect the integrity of the process and guide customers responsibly,” she cautioned.
