ANA Named Airline Of The Year By Air Transport World Magazine
Washington, D.C - Air Transport World, a monthly magazine covering the global airline industry, selected Tokyo-based ANA as its Airline of the Year for 2007. ANA was recognized for its exemplary safety record, operational and service excellence and strong financial performance, including profits in each of the past three financial years during which it overcame the impact of SARS, rising fuel prices and other unfavorable traffic trends.
The editors also were impressed with ANA's superb passenger product, typified by its New Style Club ANA business class cabin and the Narita Airport Terminal 1 South Wing that opened last year. They noted that ANA is a technology leader, as demonstrated by its decision to become the launch customer for Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner.
Seattle-based Horizon Air was named Regional Airline of the Year. ATW's editors noted that although Horizon is a unit of Alaska Air Group, it maintains its own brand and market identity and is committed to delivering a safe, reliable and friendly product to the communities of the Pacific Northwest. "Eschewing the no-frills model, Horizon offers complimentary regional wines and microbrews," they said. Horizon also is a leader in introducing regional airline cockpit technology.
Aviation Partners Boeing received ATW's Aviation Technology Achievement Award for developing Blended Winglet systems for the Boeing 737NG and other aircraft types. "In an era of near-record oil prices, Blended Winglets save fuel, improve aircraft operational performance and cut maintenance cost. And because reducing fuel burn also trims harmful emissions, they are good for the environment," the editors said.
Dr. Assad Kotaite, who served for 30 years as President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization before retiring last summer, received ATW's Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service Award, which is named for the magazine's founder. "Dr. Kotaite has guided this most critical of global industries through its adolescence and into adulthood," the editors said, paying special tribute to his actions to improve aviation safety.
The Cargo Airline of the Year Award was presented to Emirates SkyCargo of the UAE, which for the first time in its history carried more than 1 million metric tons of cargo and generated more than $1 billion in revenue. "Beyond the strong growth rate, SkyCargo is distinguished by its ongoing innovation in air cargo transport, developing systems and strategies that reverberate beyond Dubai," the editors said.
Air Canada received the Market Leadership Award. "Air Canada's development of transparent branded fares, accompanied by the introduction of 'ala carte' pricing and travel passes, mark it as the industry leader in reversing the commoditization of air travel and reestablishing a positive price/value equation for the customer," the editors said.
Royal Jordanian was named the Phoenix Award winner, presented to airlines that have gone through a major transformation. After years of losses, the Amman-based airline changed its business model to focus on traffic within its home markets, helping it return to profitability while nearly doubling in size. It also is the first Arab carrier to join a global airline alliance.
Citing their efforts under the Working Together Initiative to preserve jobs while improving the efficiency of the carrier's maintenance, repair and overhaul division, the editors selected American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union to receive the Labor Management Relations Award.
The awards will be presented on Wednesday, February 21, in Washington, D.C., at Air Transport World's Gala Awards Dinner at the Marriott Wardman Park. Event registration is at http://conference.atwonline.com.
SOURCE: Air Transport World