Joel Ajayi

A travel management company, Safety Travels Limited, has unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered travel assistant designed to make flight searches and bookings easier, safer and more transparent for travellers.

The AI Assistant, described by the company as the first of its kind in Africa, was unveiled on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing organised to showcase the company’s latest innovation.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Safety Travels Limited and Governing Board Member of the African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja, Hon. Chidi Nwogu, said the innovation was developed to take the company’s operations to a higher level while responding to rapid changes in the global travel industry.

Nwogu said the company, which has been operating for about 40 years as a family-owned business, was founded by his mother, adding that the latest technological development was part of efforts to preserve the company’s legacy while embracing modern trends in the travel sector.

He said the platform incorporates advanced technology to protect travellers’ identities and sensitive information, assuring users that their personal details and funds would be kept secure.

According to him, Safety Travels handles more than 5,000 passports belonging to high-profile clients, making integrity, confidentiality and data security essential to its operations.

Nwogu also urged members of the public to patronise credible and properly registered travel agencies, warning against fraudulent operators who impersonate legitimate travel companies through fake websites and online platforms.

He said the company’s long-standing involvement in Nigeria’s aviation sector had strengthened its commitment to improving the industry and ensuring that Nigerian travel services meet global standards.

Speaking on the features of the new technology, the General Manager of Safety Travels, Joseph Agofure, said the AI Assistant allows travellers to search for flights using voice prompts and complete their bookings online.

Agofure stated that the system has been trained to understand several languages, including English, Yoruba and Hausa, Spanish, Chinese, Igbo, Igede, Idoma, EFIK, Ibibio amongst others enabling users to make travel requests in a natural manner. The AI then processes the request and provides available flight options based on the traveller’s departure point, destination and preferred travel details.

During a demonstration, the AI Assistant processed a voice request for a cheap flight from Abuja to Lagos and generated different flight options with varying departure times and fares.

The platform also provides travellers with important flight information, including departure and arrival times, duration, baggage allowance, fare conditions and refund policies, before they proceed with payment.

Agofure said travellers could access the platform through smartphones, laptops and other internet-enabled devices, while booking confirmations and payment information are sent to the email address provided by the customer.

He further advised travellers to be vigilant when making online bookings, noting that fraudulent websites have been used to deceive unsuspecting customers.

He said the company’s official website is safetytravels.org, urging customers to verify the web address before making any transaction.

Safety Travels, which has operated for more than 40 years and is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, said it also has certifications in Nigeria and other countries, with branches outside the country.

The company expressed optimism that the AI-powered platform would strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s travel industry, improve customer experience and help position local travel services to compete more effectively with global standards.

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