OAG picks Singapore as 'Airline of the Year'

OAG picks Singapore as 'Airline of the Year'

1:14 PM Thu, Nov 19, 2009 | Permalink Terry Maxon/Reporter    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

When I took a taxi ride from Lexington, Ky., to Cincinnati last month after my American Eagle flight was cancelled, I shared the cab with an Australian man who had been attending a veterinary medicine conference in Lexington.

Our talk turned to airlines, so I asked him his favorite. His preference, far above all others, was Singapore Airlines. He couldn't say enough good things about Singapore.

He'll be happy to know that Singapore was named airline of the year in the 2009 OAG Airline Industry Awards on Thursday.

Southwest Airlines was named the best low-cost airline. Continental Airlines was honored as the best airline based in North America and for having the best business class.

Here are the other winners:

• Best Transatlantic Airline: Virgin Atlantic

• Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent: Emirates

• Best Airline Based in Central South America & Caribbean: LAN

• Best Airline based in Africa: South African Airlines

• Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe: CSA Czech Airlines

• Best Airline Based in Australia/Pacific: Qantas

• For a longer list including finalists, keep reading.

Here's OAG's explanation of the voting process: "Winners are chosen by asking frequent flyers to consider which airlines they have flown in the past 12 months in each of the award categories and rank their top three airlines for each category. All votes were cast online. The results were calculated using a ratio of 'mentions to best,' taking into account how many times an airline was voted 1st, 2nd or 3rd by each traveler. All votes were analyzed by OAG to ensure that they were placed in the correct category and to guarantee that all airlines and airports, irrespective of size, competed on a level playing field."

OAG Airline of the Year 2009
• Winner: Singapore Airlines
Finalists: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline based in Africa
• Winner: South African Airways
Finalists: Egyptair, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc

Best Airline based in Asia
• Winner: Singapore Airlines
Finalists: Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways

Best Airline based in Australasia/Pacific
• Winner: Qantas
Finalists: Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar, Virgin Blue

Best Airline based in Central/Eastern Europe
• Winner: CSA Czech Airlines
Highly Commended: LOT Polish Airlines
Finalists: Aeroflot Russian Airlines,, MALEV Hungarian Airlines,TAROM Romanian Air Transport

Best Airline based in Central/South America & Caribbean
• Winner: LAN Airlines
Finalists: Avianca, Copa Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines

Best Airline based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent
• Winner: Emirates
Finalists: EL AL, Etihad, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways

Best Airline based in North America
• Winner: Continental Airlines
Finalists: Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines

Best Airline based in Western Europe
• Winner: Virgin Atlantic
Finalists: Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa

Best Europe to Asia/Australasia Airline
• Winner: Singapore Airlines
Finalists: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas

Best Transatlantic Airline
• Winner: Virgin Atlantic
Finalists: British Airways, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines

Best Transpacific Airline
• Winner: Singapore Airlines
Finalists: Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, United Airlines

Best Low Cost/No Frills Airline
• Winner: Southwest Airlines
Finalists: EasyJet, JetBlue, Virgin America, Virgin Blue

Best Economy/Coach Class
• Winner: British Airways
Finalists: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines

Best Executive/Business Class
• Winner: Continental Airlines
Finalists: British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic

Best International First Class
• Winner: Singapore Airlines
Finalists: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates

Best Airport
• Winner: Singapore Changi
Highly Commended: Heathrow
Finalists: Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Kuala Lumpur International