DOHA Qatar Airways (QA), the country’s flagship carrier has once again bagged the prestigious Best Airline- Middle East Award at the The Skytrax World Airline Awards held in Hamburg, Germany, on April 1. The airlines thus retained this honour it had also achieved in 2008. Skytrax World Airline Awards are given by compiling 16.2 million survey interviews taken during an e i g ht -month survey period with the passengers belonging to over 97 different countries taking part. The award is regarded, recognised and quoted across the globe, and is known as ‘the respected air travel awards.’ At the award ceremony, Qatar Airways also had the distinction of notching up fourth rank among the airlines of 2009. It was an improvement upon its 7th ranking in 2008. Qatar Airways turned out to be a popular winner, being named the Best Airline in the Middle-East. It also walked away with the Best Economy Class award. “As a well-established 5-star airline, Qatar Airways achieved success in the Economy Class section, which was one of the most closely contested survey categories,” said the Chief Executive Officer of Skytrax Edward Plaisted. The typical Economy Class trip experience does notoffer the same opportunity to an airline to serve customers as intensively as would be the case in the premium cabins of the aircraft,” said Plaisted, adding, “but Qatar Airways’ success in the economy class category shows that quality consistency can be achieved in the main cabin.” “In the Middle-East there is Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways all vying for the Best in Region title, and Qatar Airways performed well to bag this award,” added Plaisted. Meanwhile, for the third time in 10 years, Cathay Pacific has been named World’s Best Airline, winning the 2009 Airline of the Year title in the latest World Airline Awards. It was the winner of this prestigious global title in 2003 and 2005 as well. In the other categories, Malaysian Airlines took the title of World’s Best Cabin Staff, Emirates for Best Airline Inflight Entertainment, Singapore Airlines won two key awards, taking the Best Airline First Class and Best First Class Airline Catering titles, Etihad Airways was named Best Business Class airline. It also got the award for Business Class Catering. Turkish Airlines bagged the Best Airline Southern Europe while Koreabased Asiana Airlines walked away with the title of Best Transpacific Airline. http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20090405/content.asp?section=exclusive1_1

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