Emirates, Etihad win 'World's Best Airline' awards for 2013

Emirates and Etihad dominated the Skytrax World Airline Awards awards for 2013, given away in Paris on Tuesday, June 19, at the Paris Air Show. The two airlines flying out of the UAE dominated the show by winning the most coveted titles at the award show. Emirates was awarded the highly coveted ‘World’s Best Airline’ award. In addition to winning ‘World’s Best Airline’ Emirates scooped up a further two awards including; ‘Best Middle East Airline’ and for a record ninth year in a row, ‘World’s Best Inflight Entertainment’. The awards were collected today by Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline at the Paris Airshow. Etihad Airways swept the Skytrax World Airline Awards’ First Class category, receiving three awards, for the second year in a row. The Abu Dhabi-based airline also took home the coveted title of Best First Class for the fourth consecutive year, as well as taking home top honours for Best First Class Seats and Best First Class Catering. The Skytrax World Airline Awards polled over 18 million business and leisure air travellers from more than 160 countries "Being honoured with these awards is testament to our unrelenting effort to be the world’s best airline," said Emirates' Tim Clark. "We are constantly striving to offer our customers consistent, world-class service that extends from the moment they make their booking to the moment they arrive home at the end of their journey." "These awards are widely regarded as the industry’s benchmark for excellence. “For us, the awards clearly reflect a vote of confidence from global travellers, who acknowledge and appreciate our continuous drive to deliver high-quality service. To be voted ‘World’s Best Airline’ by millions of discerning travellers really is something for our 60,000 strong workforce to be proud of," added Clark. Last year over 39 million customers flew with Emirates, connecting across the airline’s global network and enjoying the airline’s extensive onboard innovations, including the industry leading inflight entertainment system ICE, offering over 1,400 channels of entertainment. Etihad Airways best first class Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: "It is a huge accomplishment to take home the top honours in every First Class category again, underlining our leading premium product proposition. "Etihad Airways has, in just 10 years of operation, risen rapidly in the Skytrax rankings because we are continually investing in innovative new product and service concepts. “We believe that world-class hospitality should not be limited to hotels and restaurants, so we are elevating the travel experience by bringing the best of hospitality to every touch point in the journey,” he added. "The Skytrax World Airline Awards represent a global benchmark for airline excellence because they go straight to the source – the traveller. “To be recognised and named by our guests as the best in the world is an affirmation of the value of our unique philosophy and innovation." Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax , said: "It has been another fantastic year of achievement for Etihad Airways at the 2013 World Airline Awards, and in scooping all of the First Class award categories, Etihad Airways have demonstrated that they are truly world leaders in this premium cabin. “These awards represent passenger votes from across the world, and they have chosen Etihad Airways as the world's Best Airline for First Class travel." Abu Dhabi International Airport receives ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ award  Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has received the prestigious "Best Airport for the Middle East region" award from the Airports Council International (ACI). The award came as a result of the capital’s airport score in the 2012 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey results - a key benchmark for customer service in the global airports’ industry. Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) also attained the title of ‘Best Improved Airport in the Middle East’ for Abu Dhabi International Airport, in recognition of the airport’s tangible improvements in ASQ overall satisfaction results in the region for 2012. AUH has excelled in categories that demonstrate the operational efficiency of the airport and the quality of services offered. The airport scored 4.40 in ASQ indicators for 2012, an increase from 4.31 in 2011, to place the airport as first in the Middle East after being ranked second last year. Collecting the award in Istanbul on behalf of ADAC, Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer of ADAC, said, "ADAC is proud of receiving the award for "Best Airport in the Middle East" as it is a testament from ACI acknowledging ADAC’s achievements in this field, an award the company cherishes and appreciates." Emirates 24/7