Why JNIA bagged Prestigious 2024 ACI Safety Award
IN recognition of outstanding aviation safety excellence, Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) has been awarded the coveted Airport Council International (ACI) Safety Award 2024 in Category 1.
The award, which was announced in Johannesburg, South Africa, marks a significant milestone for Tanzania’s aviation sector, solidifying its reputation as a leader in airport safety both regionally and globally.
Professor Godius Walter Kahyarara, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, received the award on behalf of the Tanzania and the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) that manages and operates JNIA.
This achievement underscores the country’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety and security for international air travellers.
The ACI Safety Award is recognized as one of the highest accolades in the global aviation industry. It is granted to airports that demonstrate exemplary safety performance, in full compliance with international safety standards. By winning this award, JNIA has set a new benchmark for safety across the African continent and beyond.
“This award not only highlights Julius Nyerere International Airport’s exceptional safety record but also places Tanzania at the forefront of global aviation,” said Professor Kahyarara, during the award presentation.
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He added: “It reaffirms our dedication to ensuring that Tanzania is seen as a safe, dependable, and world-class destination for air travel, which is vital for boosting tourism, attracting foreign investment, and promoting economic growth.” Here, Tanzania Airports Authority has long been committed to operational excellence, investing in advanced technologies, staff training, and infrastructure improvements to uphold stringent safety standards.
This award serves as a testament to their efforts and further enhances JNIA’s stature as a key player in international aviation. Receiving this prestigious ACI Safety Award is a great honour for the Tanzania Airports Authority and a reflection of continuous efforts to ensure the safety and security of all travellers passing through JNIA, said a TAA spokesperson.
The commentator added: “We remain committed to maintaining the highest operational standards and will continue working to enhance Tanzania’s aviation sector.” The ACI, representing airports worldwide, advocates for safety, security, and sustainability in the aviation industry. This prestigious recognition further positions JNIA as a beacon of safety in aviation, promising to bring significant benefits to Tanzania, including an increased influx of tourists and greater international confidence in the nation’s airport infrastructure.
The Airport Council International (ACI) is a global organization representing airports and airport operators. ACI’s primary role is to advance airport interests, ensuring that they maintain safety, security, and sustainability in compliance with international aviation standards.
The ACI Safety Awards are highly regarded across the industry, recognizing airports with exceptional commitment to safety.
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The ACI Safety Award evaluates criteria such as the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS), operational safety standards, stakeholder engagement, and emergency preparedness. Tanzania, classified as a Category One country with over 40,000 aircraft movements annually, has demonstrated strong adherence to ICAO standards and proactive safety practices.
ACI Africa Airport Safety Award is a testimony of the commitment to the continuous improvement of safety on the African continent as well as a recognition of the best African airports in terms of airport safety, which is considered as main pillar of the air transport industry.
The 2024 ACI Africa Airport Safety Award, under the theme “Excellence in Airport Emergency Management and Resilience”, focuses on the measures to be taken by an airport operator as well as other internal and external stakeholders with the aim of ensuring optimal coordination of activities that could help deal with emergency situations while ensuring resilience to return to normal swiftly.
A good planning also requires effective communication between the different stakeholders in an emergency situation.
The main objective of the ACI Africa Airport Safety Award 2024 is to identify member airports of the association that practice excellence in emergency management and airport resilience, based on an assessment of manuals, procedures, and concrete and functional measures in the context of planning, preparation, intervention, and resilience in airport emergency situations.
Particular attention will be given to the means put in place to have all these measures adopted, implemented, and applied.
The objective is also to evaluate the efforts made by ACI Africa member airports to promote, sensitize, and raise awareness of this subject at all levels of their organization as well as among all internal and external stakeholders in the airport community.
Winning this award would enhance the country’s global reputation, attract more airlines, and boost confidence in its airport infrastructure. It would also inspire further safety improvements and contribute significantly to the growth and development of Tanzania’s aviation sector.
At a glance, the Tanzania Airports Authority is responsible for the provision, maintenance, and management of airport infrastructure and services in Tanzania, ensuring safe and efficient operations across all national airports.
