Singapore, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - OAG (Official Airline Guide), the world's authority on flight information, today unveiled the shortlist for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards (www.oagairlineawards.com).
The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 4 June in the opulent art deco setting of The Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London. Boeing is the Awards' headline sponsor.
Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have been nominated as best airline based in Asia while nominees for best airline in Australasia and the Pacific region include Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Qantas and Virgin Blue.
"Growth in demand for air travel in Australasia and the Pacific region is reflected by two first time nominees, Fiji's Air Pacific and the Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways," says Mario Hardy, VP OAG Asia. "From the Asian region Cathay Pacific and Singapore have performed strongly across all categories including being nominated for their Business and First Class product in what are extremely competitive categories. It is also worth noting that their respective home bases, Hong Kong International and Singapore Changi, are both nominated for the title of the world's best airport. Reflecting the closeness in the voting, 2007's best airport, Seoul Incheon International, just missed out on the shortlist this year."
A total of 45 different airlines, three more than in 2007, have received nominations in 15 regional and global categories. Leading the field in terms of multiple nominations for 2008 is last year's "Airline of the Year", British Airways, which along with Singapore Airlines has six nominations. Singapore Airlines and British Airways, both five times winners of the coveted "Airline of the Year" title, are followed by American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa with four nominations apiece. First time nominees in 2008 include Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Tarom and Virgin Nigeria.
"It is often overlooked that globally there are nearly 1,000 airlines and 3,500 airports trying to attract the attention and business of the world's frequent and occasional travellers. The management and staff of all the 45 airlines nominated for this year's OAG Airline Industry Awards should be immensely proud of their accomplishments over the last 12 months," says Alan Glass, CEO of OAG. "The nominees have already been voted amongst the very best in the world in their respective categories and we at OAG congratulate them on this achievement."
Glass continued, "There is no question that the last 18 months has been at times a turbulent one for many airlines and airports, but OAG's worldwide customer and subscriber base have spoken up, as they have for the past 26 years, to vote in large numbers for the airlines and airports that they consider to be the best in the business. As in previous years our customers and subscribers, the world's frequent flyers, have thrown up some perennial favourites, such as Singapore Airlines and British Airways, as well as some interesting surprises amongst the nominees. The fact that after 26 years we can still have four first time nominees reflects just how dynamic and global our industry remains."
The annual "OAG Airline Industry Awards", sponsored by Boeing, celebrates the very best in global air travel and publicly recognises the highest standards within the industry. The complete list of nominations for 2008 follows, or at www.oagairlineawards.com
Best Airline Based in Asia
Sponsored by The Bird Group
Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways
Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific
Sponsored by 15Below
Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Virgin Blue
Best Airline Based in North America
Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines
Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean
Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines
Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent
Sponsored by The Bird Group
Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways
Best Airline Based in Africa
Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Virgin Nigeria
Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe
Sponsored by Daedalus Sales & Marketing Consultants
Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Czech Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, TAROM
Best Airline Based in Western Europe
Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic
Best Transpacific Airline
Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines
Best Transatlantic Airline
American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Best Europe - Asia/Australasia Airline
British Airways, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Best Low Cost Airline
Sponsored by The Bird Group
easyJet, jetBlue, Jetstar Airways, Ryanair, Southwest Airlines
Best Economy/Coach Class
Sponsored by Travelport
American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines
Best Business/Executive Class
Sponsored by Travelport
American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Best International First Class
Sponsored by Travelport
British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Best Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International, New York JFK, San Francisco International, Singapore Changi
Best Freighter Operator
Amerijet International, Cargolux Airlines, Cathay Pacific Cargo, KLM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo
Best Airline Lessor
Aviation Capital Group, AWAS, Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, DAE Capital, Engine Lease Finance Corp, Jetscape
Best Airline Finance Deal
Engine Lease Finance Corp (GSI engine sale), Macquarie (acquisition of GATX Air), Morgan Stanley/Credit Suisse (Continental Airlines EETC), RBS Aerospace (Airspeed securitization), Seabury Group (Northwest restructuring), TAM (bond issue)
About OAG (Official Airline Guide)
OAG (www.oagcorporate.com) is a global flight information and data solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business travel markets. It brings together buyers and sellers of air travel and transport through the management and distribution of airline product information; the supply of corporate travel planning tools; and the promotion of travel and transport products.
The business is underpinned by its data management expertise. It is best known for its airline schedules database which feeds the world's global distribution systems and travel portals and drives the internal systems of many airlines, air traffic control systems, aircraft manufacturers, airport planners and government agencies.
OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com) a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com).
SOURCE: OAG
CONTACT: Alison Pickering,
Head of Corporate Communications, OAG,
+44-1582-695477,
apickering@oag.com
Web site: http://www.oagcorporate.com
http://www.oagairlineawards.com
http://www.cbizmedia.com
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com
(UBM.L)
The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 4 June in the opulent art deco setting of The Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London. Boeing is the Awards' headline sponsor.
Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have been nominated as best airline based in Asia while nominees for best airline in Australasia and the Pacific region include Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Qantas and Virgin Blue.
"Growth in demand for air travel in Australasia and the Pacific region is reflected by two first time nominees, Fiji's Air Pacific and the Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways," says Mario Hardy, VP OAG Asia. "From the Asian region Cathay Pacific and Singapore have performed strongly across all categories including being nominated for their Business and First Class product in what are extremely competitive categories. It is also worth noting that their respective home bases, Hong Kong International and Singapore Changi, are both nominated for the title of the world's best airport. Reflecting the closeness in the voting, 2007's best airport, Seoul Incheon International, just missed out on the shortlist this year."
A total of 45 different airlines, three more than in 2007, have received nominations in 15 regional and global categories. Leading the field in terms of multiple nominations for 2008 is last year's "Airline of the Year", British Airways, which along with Singapore Airlines has six nominations. Singapore Airlines and British Airways, both five times winners of the coveted "Airline of the Year" title, are followed by American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa with four nominations apiece. First time nominees in 2008 include Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Tarom and Virgin Nigeria.
"It is often overlooked that globally there are nearly 1,000 airlines and 3,500 airports trying to attract the attention and business of the world's frequent and occasional travellers. The management and staff of all the 45 airlines nominated for this year's OAG Airline Industry Awards should be immensely proud of their accomplishments over the last 12 months," says Alan Glass, CEO of OAG. "The nominees have already been voted amongst the very best in the world in their respective categories and we at OAG congratulate them on this achievement."
Glass continued, "There is no question that the last 18 months has been at times a turbulent one for many airlines and airports, but OAG's worldwide customer and subscriber base have spoken up, as they have for the past 26 years, to vote in large numbers for the airlines and airports that they consider to be the best in the business. As in previous years our customers and subscribers, the world's frequent flyers, have thrown up some perennial favourites, such as Singapore Airlines and British Airways, as well as some interesting surprises amongst the nominees. The fact that after 26 years we can still have four first time nominees reflects just how dynamic and global our industry remains."
The annual "OAG Airline Industry Awards", sponsored by Boeing, celebrates the very best in global air travel and publicly recognises the highest standards within the industry. The complete list of nominations for 2008 follows, or at www.oagairlineawards.com
Best Airline Based in Asia
Sponsored by The Bird Group
Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways
Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific
Sponsored by 15Below
Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Virgin Blue
Best Airline Based in North America
Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines
Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean
Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines
Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent
Sponsored by The Bird Group
Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways
Best Airline Based in Africa
Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Virgin Nigeria
Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe
Sponsored by Daedalus Sales & Marketing Consultants
Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Czech Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, MALEV Hungarian Airlines, TAROM
Best Airline Based in Western Europe
Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic
Best Transpacific Airline
Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines
Best Transatlantic Airline
American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Best Europe - Asia/Australasia Airline
British Airways, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Best Low Cost Airline
Sponsored by The Bird Group
easyJet, jetBlue, Jetstar Airways, Ryanair, Southwest Airlines
Best Economy/Coach Class
Sponsored by Travelport
American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines
Best Business/Executive Class
Sponsored by Travelport
American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Best International First Class
Sponsored by Travelport
British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Best Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International, New York JFK, San Francisco International, Singapore Changi
Best Freighter Operator
Amerijet International, Cargolux Airlines, Cathay Pacific Cargo, KLM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo
Best Airline Lessor
Aviation Capital Group, AWAS, Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, DAE Capital, Engine Lease Finance Corp, Jetscape
Best Airline Finance Deal
Engine Lease Finance Corp (GSI engine sale), Macquarie (acquisition of GATX Air), Morgan Stanley/Credit Suisse (Continental Airlines EETC), RBS Aerospace (Airspeed securitization), Seabury Group (Northwest restructuring), TAM (bond issue)
About OAG (Official Airline Guide)
OAG (www.oagcorporate.com) is a global flight information and data solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business travel markets. It brings together buyers and sellers of air travel and transport through the management and distribution of airline product information; the supply of corporate travel planning tools; and the promotion of travel and transport products.
The business is underpinned by its data management expertise. It is best known for its airline schedules database which feeds the world's global distribution systems and travel portals and drives the internal systems of many airlines, air traffic control systems, aircraft manufacturers, airport planners and government agencies.
OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com) a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com).
SOURCE: OAG
CONTACT: Alison Pickering,
Head of Corporate Communications, OAG,
+44-1582-695477,
apickering@oag.com
Web site: http://www.oagcorporate.com
http://www.oagairlineawards.com
http://www.cbizmedia.com
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com
(UBM.L)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment