British Airways wins the family-friendly vote
The world’s best airlines have been recognised this month at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, the aviation industry’s answer to the Oscars.
The winners were announced at a glittering ceremony in London as airline bosses gathered to find out if they’d made the cut.
And while Asian and Middle Eastern airlines dominated much of the night, British Airways took home the award for the world’s most family-friendly airline.
The award takes into account multiple stages of the journey for families, including family seating policies, check-in facilities, priority boarding, children’s meals, children’s amenities and activity packs, child-friendly on-board entertainment, luggage policies for carrycots and strollers and general standard of assistance from ground staff and cabin crew.
Responding to the award, British Airways chairman Sean Doyle said it recognised the length staff go to to, to ensure families travel as smoothly as possible. “Families benefit from our generous baggage allowance including pushchairs and car or booster seats, priority pre-boarding and brand new exclusive entertaining content to make every journey seamless,” he said.
Qatar Airways took the top spot as World’s Best Airline overall, as well as scooping the award for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Lounge and Best Airline in the Middle East.
“This is a proud Qatar Airways moment and it is my honour to share this award with my hard working colleagues,” Qatar Airways group chief executive officer Mohammed Al-Meer told the more than 300 guests assembled for the ceremony at Fairmont Windsor Park, close to Heathrow airport.
Asia and the Middle East dominated the top five, with Singapore Airlines taking second place, Emirates winning third place, ANA All Nippon Airways scooping fourth place and Cathay Pacific fifth place. Cathay Pacific also won first place for World’s Best Economy Class.
Cathay group chief executive officer Ronald Lam said the airline was “extremely encouraged” to move from last year’s top ten position to the top five. “But we won’t stop there,” he said. “These achievements will motivate us to continue to go above and beyond for our customers every stop of the way as we strive to become the world’s best premium airline.”
Cathay is launching new seat products over the next three years, including an all-new business class experience, a new premium economy seat and a refreshed economy offering on its Boeing 777 aircraft later this year. From July Cathay will be increasing its cabin crew complement on selected flights to improve service levels.
AirAsia again took home World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, while Scoot was recognised as World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline.
Plaza Premium won World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge operator with the Plaza Premium lounge at Rome airport being voted as top place.
Read more stories like this by signing up for our FREE weekly newsletter, straight to your inbox and packed with Hong Kong and Asia news, holiday inspiration, resort reviews and giveaways. And don't forget to join the chat at Facebook Group Asia Family Traveller.
Komentarze