ISSN: 2349-5677 Volume 1, Issue 3, August 2014 Assessment of Customer Service and Service Guarantee Impacts for Airlines in Malawi: The Case of Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airways James Malitoni Chilembwe Lecturer, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Mzuzu University, Private Bag 201, Luwinga. Mzuzu. Malawi E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract Customer service and service guarantees are targeted more as a marketing effort in airlines because they improve service quality which enhances repeat business. It is important that each airline develops an effective relationship with their passengers so as to maximise customer loyalty and repeat business. Therefore, this paper explored the impacts of customer service and service guarantees offeredby airlines. The case study was conducted with three airlines operating in Malawi; Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airways. The methods of data collection were mainlyqualitative and quantitative approach. Interviews were conducted with airlines‟ passengers, airline mangers and sales agents using both questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Data was analysed by using content comparison and excel.The findings of this study revealed that the airline sales agents and managers do not explicitly give information about the service guarantees offered to passengers in order to help in maximising customer loyalty, needs and wants. It was also revealed from passengers that the airlines provide good customer service despite lack of understanding about actual service guarantees offered by airlines. Keywords: Tourism, Airlines, Customer Service, Service Guarantee, Service Quality and Satisfaction 82 ISSN: 2349-5677 Volume 1, Issue 3, August 2014 1.0 Introduction An airline is a company which offers air transport for passengers and freight(Doganis, 2006; Manuela Jnr, 2007).