A new indigenous value carrier, Green Africa, has emerged top in On-Time Performance according to data gathered. On-Time Performance, otherwise called ‘OTP’ in aviation is measured as a percentage of scheduled flights that departed at the published time plus a 15-minute buffer.
For most air travellers, on-time departure of flights ranks high on their list of concerns, however, this expectation is usually not met, especially in Nigeria, where most airlines delay flights frequently.
A look at the OTP results for Green Africa from June to November 2022 shows that out of the 3,404 flights the airline operated during that period, 82.37 per cent were on time.
This is the highest reported OTP record in the Nigerian aviation industry during the period; this is a huge feat as the airline only just started operations in August 2021.
This is also a feat by global standards and especially noteworthy considering some of the unique challenges airlines face in the region, including fuel shortages and infrastructure limitations, just to name a few.
This is not to say Green Africa has had an easy ride since its inception in 2021. The value carrier had to contend with its own fair share of challenges, like every new company.
Some of the issues in its early days were around refunds due to flight cancellations and poor market understanding of its unbundled products and no-frill model. Green Africa, in response, regrouped and as stated by its Founder and CEO, Babawande Afolabi, in the first year anniversary email to customers, quickly made some key adjustments.
Green Africa’s Brand and Marketing Manager, Omolara Kehinde, said, “Our promise to customers is to connect them to their dreams and loved ones. Providing an on time and reliable service is at the centre of this promise. Every gTalent at Green Africa values the company’s 5-Point Customer Promise, which are safety, affordability, service, reliability, and fun, and takes very seriously our mission, which is to use the power of air travel to create a better future.”