South African Airways Named Top African Airline at 2026 Akwaaba Travel Market

South African Airways has received the Top African Airline recognition at the 22nd edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market, following a voting process involving travel-sector stakeholders and members of the public.

The honour was presented during the three-day travel event. Akwaaba founder and African Travel Quarterly publisher Ikechi Uko announced the recognition, which organisers included within the event's wider Top 100 Travel Icons in Nigeria for Excellence in Travel programme. Uko linked the award to the airline's contribution to the travel industry.

SAA also used this year's market to involve four travel companies that work with the airline. Fare Deal Travel & Tours, Vacation Places Limited, 3Cords Leisure & Vacation and OCI Travel & Tours participated as co-exhibitors at the airline's stand, with SAA covering their participation expenses. The arrangement gave the companies an opportunity to interact with business representatives as well as members of the travelling public attending the event.

The four partners had earlier taken part in a familiarisation visit to Mauritius sponsored by SAA. During the trip, participants experienced hotels, tourist attractions and other elements of the destination that they could later discuss with customers considering travel to Mauritius.

Representatives of the participating agencies said the first-hand experience improved their understanding of the destination. Oluwayemisi Kpote of 3Cords Travels said the trip had been well organised and expressed interest in developing more group tours using SAA. Olubusola Afolabi of OCI Travels & Tours said direct experience of Mauritius had helped agents advise customers with greater confidence and had supported sales of the destination.

Sonny Egbane, co-founder and chief operating officer of 3Cords, described closer cooperation between the carrier and travel agents as beneficial to both parties. Divine Bestman of Fare Deal Travels also said the experience improved the agency's ability to guide clients and strengthened its understanding of the destination.

The award and the travel-agent activities placed both airline recognition and trade partnerships at the centre of SAA's participation in the 2026 Akwaaba market. The event brought together industry participants while giving airlines, tourism businesses and travel companies a platform to engage with professional and consumer audiences.