Wirraway
13th Apr 2004, 05:47
http://www.airlinequality.com/2004/group_results.htm
Singapore Airlines wins Airline of the Year 2004 Award in world's largest Passenger Survey
After 10 months of passenger voting, the Skytrax Airline of the Year survey logged a total of 10.8 million eligible entries, and more than 92 different nationalities participated.
The much prized 2004 Airline of the Year title has been won by Singapore Airlines, after some considerable challenges by Emirates (2nd) and Cathay Pacific (3rd) - both of these carriers being in the title position on several occasions through the 10 month period of the survey.
In addition to scooping the 2004 Airline of the Year title, Singapore Airlines takes the award for "Best Airline Asia" - and was amongst the top three performers as Best Transpacific, Best First Class and Best Economy Class airline.
The final 2004 Surveys rankings:
1 Singapore Airlines
2 Emirates
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Qantas Airways
5 Thai Airways
6 British Airways
7 Qatar Airways
8 Malaysia Airlines
9 Continental Airlines
10 ANA All Nippon Airways
The final result remained uncertain until just 2 weeks before survey closure, with Emirates (2nd) and Cathay Pacific (3rd) both leading the survey rankings at different periods of the 10 month project, and it is with all credit to the final winner, Singapore Airlines that they were able to maintain a steady level of support to clinch the title. The consistency of the SIA staff service delivery, allied to great inflight entertainment appeared to be two key factors to the airline securing it's first Skytrax Airline of the Year title - Singapore Airlines also being voted Best Airline S E Asia, and ranked 3rd for Best First Class and Best Economy Class respectively.
The dividing margins between 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were just a few thousand nominations, and in taking the survey Silver Award for a second consecutive year, Emirates was also the recipient of the Best Economy Class and Best Middle East airline titles. Again, key factors of support behind the Emirates voting were their standards of cabin staff service, onboard catering and inflight entertainment.
Last year's winner, Cathay Pacific, may have slipped into 3rd position overall, but the final vote differentials were relatively slim - and Cathay Pacific does not go away empty-handed, being the winner of the 2004 Best Transpacific Airline and 2004 Best First Class titles.
Qantas moved up one place to take 4th position in the 2004 survey, as well as clinching the Best Airline Australasia title - together with securing 2nd place as Best First Class, and the new Qantas Business Class product pushing them up to 3rd place in Best Business Class category. Looking at passenger feedback on the Qantas nominations, the airline still scores well for standards of staff service, and recent product improvements particularly to the economy cabin have won a lot of loyal support.
Thai Airways moves into the top 5 rankings for the first time, from 8th position in 2003. Cabin staff service, economy cabin legroom and onboard catering were high support factors for Thai, whilst poor IFE and business class seating were the negative aspects
In sixth position (unchanged from their 2003 ranking) British Airways was named as the Best Business Class and Best Transatlantic airline - with rival UK carrier, Virgin Atlantic, new business class product not available enough to influence their final 2004 positioning.
The highest moving entrant into the 2004 top rankings is Qatar Airways in 8th place (up from 24th in 2003). With media releases trumpeting their status as the world's fastest growing airline, Qatar Airways scored very well for the quality of staff service delivery, and generally high product standards across all their cabin categories. Qatar Airways also took 2nd place in the Best Middle East Airline category.
Malaysia Airlines (8th position) slipped slightly from last year's 5th place ranking, although this is another airline where we would expect next year's performance to be enhanced by their upgraded First and Business Class products due to come on stream later in 2004. As the recipient of the Best Cabin Staff Award several years in succession, we have yet to see if Malaysia Airlines are able to repeat their success for the 2004 title.
The growing global interest in low-cost airlines was duly recognised in the final Survey results, with JetBlue Airways voted the world's Best Low-Cost Airline for 2004, ahead of Virgin Blue in 2nd and Southwest Airlines 3rd. What was also surprising, is that JetBlue was also voted 2nd Best Airline for North America - against it's full service rivals - and Virgin Blue also achieved similar recognition by taking 3rd place in the Best Airline Australasia category (behind Qantas and Air New Zealand).
Around the regions, South African Airways takes the Best Airline Africa title for the 4th successive year - well ahead of it's nearest survey rival, Kenya Airways. British Airways retained it's position as Best Airline Europe, ahead of SWISS (who also took 2nd place in 2003). TAM Brazilian was named as Best Airline South America, with Copa Airlines securing the title for Best Airline Central America.
Dragonair secures the Best Airline China title, well ahead of mainland rivals China Southern and China Eastern Airlines, whilst in Europe, PGA Portugalia Airlines followed up it's 2003 award as 2004 Best European Regional Airline.
13 April 2004
===========================================
Singapore Airlines wins Airline of the Year 2004 Award in world's largest Passenger Survey
After 10 months of passenger voting, the Skytrax Airline of the Year survey logged a total of 10.8 million eligible entries, and more than 92 different nationalities participated.
The much prized 2004 Airline of the Year title has been won by Singapore Airlines, after some considerable challenges by Emirates (2nd) and Cathay Pacific (3rd) - both of these carriers being in the title position on several occasions through the 10 month period of the survey.
In addition to scooping the 2004 Airline of the Year title, Singapore Airlines takes the award for "Best Airline Asia" - and was amongst the top three performers as Best Transpacific, Best First Class and Best Economy Class airline.
The final 2004 Surveys rankings:
1 Singapore Airlines
2 Emirates
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Qantas Airways
5 Thai Airways
6 British Airways
7 Qatar Airways
8 Malaysia Airlines
9 Continental Airlines
10 ANA All Nippon Airways
The final result remained uncertain until just 2 weeks before survey closure, with Emirates (2nd) and Cathay Pacific (3rd) both leading the survey rankings at different periods of the 10 month project, and it is with all credit to the final winner, Singapore Airlines that they were able to maintain a steady level of support to clinch the title. The consistency of the SIA staff service delivery, allied to great inflight entertainment appeared to be two key factors to the airline securing it's first Skytrax Airline of the Year title - Singapore Airlines also being voted Best Airline S E Asia, and ranked 3rd for Best First Class and Best Economy Class respectively.
The dividing margins between 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were just a few thousand nominations, and in taking the survey Silver Award for a second consecutive year, Emirates was also the recipient of the Best Economy Class and Best Middle East airline titles. Again, key factors of support behind the Emirates voting were their standards of cabin staff service, onboard catering and inflight entertainment.
Last year's winner, Cathay Pacific, may have slipped into 3rd position overall, but the final vote differentials were relatively slim - and Cathay Pacific does not go away empty-handed, being the winner of the 2004 Best Transpacific Airline and 2004 Best First Class titles.
Qantas moved up one place to take 4th position in the 2004 survey, as well as clinching the Best Airline Australasia title - together with securing 2nd place as Best First Class, and the new Qantas Business Class product pushing them up to 3rd place in Best Business Class category. Looking at passenger feedback on the Qantas nominations, the airline still scores well for standards of staff service, and recent product improvements particularly to the economy cabin have won a lot of loyal support.
Thai Airways moves into the top 5 rankings for the first time, from 8th position in 2003. Cabin staff service, economy cabin legroom and onboard catering were high support factors for Thai, whilst poor IFE and business class seating were the negative aspects
In sixth position (unchanged from their 2003 ranking) British Airways was named as the Best Business Class and Best Transatlantic airline - with rival UK carrier, Virgin Atlantic, new business class product not available enough to influence their final 2004 positioning.
The highest moving entrant into the 2004 top rankings is Qatar Airways in 8th place (up from 24th in 2003). With media releases trumpeting their status as the world's fastest growing airline, Qatar Airways scored very well for the quality of staff service delivery, and generally high product standards across all their cabin categories. Qatar Airways also took 2nd place in the Best Middle East Airline category.
Malaysia Airlines (8th position) slipped slightly from last year's 5th place ranking, although this is another airline where we would expect next year's performance to be enhanced by their upgraded First and Business Class products due to come on stream later in 2004. As the recipient of the Best Cabin Staff Award several years in succession, we have yet to see if Malaysia Airlines are able to repeat their success for the 2004 title.
The growing global interest in low-cost airlines was duly recognised in the final Survey results, with JetBlue Airways voted the world's Best Low-Cost Airline for 2004, ahead of Virgin Blue in 2nd and Southwest Airlines 3rd. What was also surprising, is that JetBlue was also voted 2nd Best Airline for North America - against it's full service rivals - and Virgin Blue also achieved similar recognition by taking 3rd place in the Best Airline Australasia category (behind Qantas and Air New Zealand).
Around the regions, South African Airways takes the Best Airline Africa title for the 4th successive year - well ahead of it's nearest survey rival, Kenya Airways. British Airways retained it's position as Best Airline Europe, ahead of SWISS (who also took 2nd place in 2003). TAM Brazilian was named as Best Airline South America, with Copa Airlines securing the title for Best Airline Central America.
Dragonair secures the Best Airline China title, well ahead of mainland rivals China Southern and China Eastern Airlines, whilst in Europe, PGA Portugalia Airlines followed up it's 2003 award as 2004 Best European Regional Airline.
13 April 2004
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