After a gap of almost 20 years, British Airways carried off the top honours at the ‘Oscars’ of the aviation industry. Mike Toynbee reports on the 25th anniversary event British Airways emerged as the big winner at the 25th OAG Airline of the Year Awards, recapturing the title for the first time in almost 20 years. BA chief executive Willy Walsh collected the coveted Spirit of Flight trophy from HRH The Princess Royal at a gala dinner at London’s Landmark hotel, attended by leading aviation figures from around the world. In addition to the main award, BA won three other major categories, including best transatlantic airline, and was shortlisted in a further three, underlining the carrier's remarkable turn-round since Walsh took over two years ago. British Airways last won the top accolade in 1988 and now ties with Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic in having won the title on five separate occasions since the inception of the awards in 1982. SIA continued its run of success by retaining the award for the best First Class and regaining the honour as best airline in Asia, while Continental Airlines won the best Business Class category for a fifth successive year. It was also voted best airline in North America for the fourth year running, just pipping American Airlines, which was commended. Last year's overall winner, Cathay Pacific Airways, retained its crown as best trans-pacific airline. Korean Air, shortlisted for the first time, carried off the award for the best Economy Class, while Seoul Incheon International emerged as the surprise winner of the best airport category, dominated in previous years by Singapore Changi, Amsterdam
Schiphol and Dubai International. JetBlue repeated last year's success by winning the best low-cost/no-frills airline for the second time, ahead of arch-rival Southwest Airlines. EasyJet’s founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, was presented with this year’s lifetime achievement award, recognising the impact that the low-cost carrier and the easyGroup had made on the European aviation and travel scene. Alan Glass, OAG’s CEO, praised Stelios for his remarkable entrepreneurial achievements in a comparatively short ‘lifetime’.
The recipient of the outstanding service award was Maria Sabbah, BMED’s sales manager in Lebanon, for her dedication and inspirational leadership during the aftermath of last year's air attacks on Beirut and its international airport. Maria helped hundreds of stranded passengers from all airlines to find their way home safely. Summing up, OAG managing director Duncan Alexander, said: “As in previous years the results have thrown up some interesting surprises as well as some perennial favourites. On behalf of OAG and its customers, we congratulate all the winners and nominees for representing the very best in global air travel.” OAG AIRLINE OF THE YEAR 2007 RESULTS OAG Airline of the Year 2007
British Airways
Nominees: Aeromexico, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, South African Airways, Singapore Airlines Best Airline based in Asia
Singapore Airlines
Nominees: Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Thai Airways Best Airline based in Australasia/Pacific
Qantas
Nominees: Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, Virgin Blue Best Airline based in North America
Continental Airlines
Nominees: Air Canada, American Airlines (commended), Delta Air Lines, United Airlines Best Airline based in Central/South America & Caribbean
Aeromexico
Nominees: Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines Best Airline based in Western Europe
British Airways
Nominees: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa,
Virgin Atlantic Best Airline based in Central/Eastern Europe
CSA Czech Airlines
Nominees: Aeroflot Russian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines,
MALEV Hungarian Airlines Best Airline based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent
Emirates
Nominees: El Al, Etihad Airways, Jet Airways,
Qatar Airways (commended) Best Airline based in Africa
South African Airways
Nominees: Air Mauritius, Egyptair, Kenya Airways Best Transatlantic Airline
British Airways
Nominees: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa,
Virgin Atlantic Best Transpacific Airline
Cathay Pacific
Nominees: Air New Zealand, American Airlines,
Qantas, United Airlines Best Europe-Asia/Australasia Airline
British Airways
Nominees: Air France, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qantas Best Low-cost/No-frills Airline
JetBlue
Nominees: AirAsia, bmibaby, easyJet, Southwest Airlines, Virgin Blue Best Economy/Coach Class
Korean Air
Nominees: American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines Best Business/Executive Class
Continental Airlines
Nominees: American Airlines, British Airways,
Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic (commended) Best International First Class
Singapore Airlines
Nominees: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Korean Air Best Airport
Seoul Incheon International
Nominees: Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, New York JFK, San Francisco International, Singapore Changi (commended)
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