Shortlist Unveiled for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards (Americas Focus)
14 May 2008
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.
A total of 45 different airlines, three more than in 2007, have received nominations in 15 regional and global categories.
Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are nominated for best airline based in North America, while the nominees for best airline in Central, South America and the Caribbean include Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana and TAM Brazilian Airlines. In 2007 the respective winners were Continental and Aeromexico. Airlines within North American are also strongly represented in the best Transatlantic category with three of the five nominees being US carriers.
“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 travelers, explained Alan Glass, CEO of OAG. “Not surprisingly the categories for best North American carrier and best on the Atlantic routes are among the most competitive of the entire OAG Airline Industry Awards.”
Alan Glass continued, “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. The nominees have already been voted among the very best in the world in their respective categories and we at OAG congratulate them on this achievement.”
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. British Airways and Singapore Airlines, 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.
Nominees for the world’s best airport include two US hubs, New York JFK and San Francisco International, plus Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International, and Singapore Changi. Reflecting the closeness in the voting, 2007’s best airport, Seoul Incheon International, just missed out on the shortlist this year.
“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,” added Alan Glass. “As in previous years our customers, the world’s frequent flyers, have thrown up some perennial favourites, as well as some interesting surprises among 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. Below is the complete list of nominations for 2008:
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 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 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
Air France KLM Cargo, Amerijet International, Cargolux Airlines, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo
Best Airline Lessor
Aviation Capital Group, AWAS, Babcock & Brown Air Ltd,
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)
-ENDS-
For further information, photography and media enquiries, please contact:
Alison Pickering, Head of Corporate Communications, OAG in the UK