Local scheduled airliner, Eswatini Air, has reaffirmed that passenger safety remains the airline’s number one priority.
Eswatini Air General Manager Ndumiso Shongwe made the assurance during a Stakeholders Meeting at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha on Tuesday.
Shongwe emphasised that flight delays or cancellations are never taken lightly but are sometimes necessary to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Shongwe highlighted the airline’s impressive 95.6 per cent on-time performance, demonstrating its continued commitment to operational efficiency and reliable service.
Getaneh Woldemichael.
In attendance were officials from various sectors such as tourism, hospitality, government, tour operators, and the media.
The event featured presentations by Eswatini Air General Manager Ndumiso Shongwe and RENAC Director Commercial Getaneh Woldemichael.
Shongwe outlined Eswatini Air’s Vision, Mission and Values, with emphasis on the airline values were rooted on safety, people empowerment, accountability and integrity, customer centricity, as well as excellence and innovation.
He said their mission was to provide a pleasant and memorable air travel experience to customers and empower its teams to deliver safe, efficient, innovative and customer-centric air travel service.
The airline’s vision is to be a sustainable and socially responsible airline of choice within the region and beyond.
Woldemichael urged frequently travelling customers to use the Eagle Miles portal on the Eswatini Air website to accumulate points they could utilise to buy tickets and pay for excess baggage.
He requested feedback from those who would use this facility “because we are very serious about this”.
Chief Immigration Officer Mthokosizi Dlamini said they recognised tourism as an important contributor to the country’s economic growth, employment creation, investment, and the general visibility of the country.
Shedding more light, he said it was important that the immigration adequately informed travellers and ensured that they were well informed about the laws prevailing in their destination countries.
“We are very much alive and mindful of the fact that our passport, for example, is old and needs a serious review. It no longer adequately addresses certain requirements or legislative framework that obtains in other countries.
For example, you may find that in other countries they will require a traveller to have a passport that is of no less than six months before expiring,” he said. 
He stressed that: “We strive to do better every day. We should be proactive than reactive, and we also have a duty to inform our travellers that the laws that obtain in that other country, we have very little influence in relation to what is expected of us to conform and align.”
Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) Chief Executive Officer Vusi Dlamini acknowledged that Eswatini Air was a major contributor to local tourism, particularly the South African routes.
“It is my belief that Eswatini Air is doing good in contributing the numbers of tourists visiting the country,” he said.
Business Eswatini (BE) Head of Trade & Commerce Musa Maseko praised Eswatini Air for being an enabler of trade and business.
He said the airline played a key role in facilitating convenient travel and being reliable.
“People are now able to quickly travel to Cape Town, do their business and return,” he noted.
In closing, Chairman of Eswatini Air Board of Directors Dr. Wisdom Dlamini said there was a need for stakeholders to work together to make Eswatini a hub for travel.
He said the airline wanted to empower emaSwati through employment creation and economic development.
