Etihad Airways has landed all three First Class titles at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2012.
The
‘hat-trick’ of awards picked-up by the Abu Dhabi-based airline
are:
• Best
First Class
•Best
First Class Seats
•Best
First Class Catering
Etihad
Airways has now won the Best First Classtitle for three
consecutive years. The First Classaccolades follow the airline’s
previous successes in the Skytrax Best Business Class
awards which underlines the airline’s leading premium product
position.
The
prestigious awards, one of the leading rankings and benchmarks in the
airline industry, were presented at the Skytrax World Airline Awards
ceremony held yesterday, Thursday 12 July, at the Farnborough Airshow
in the UK.
Peter
Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “To
once again win every available Skytrax Award in the First
Class category is a fantastic achievement for Etihad Airways.
“The
Skytrax awards are renowned across the world for reflecting the
thoughts and views of millions of air travellers and we are delighted
that our premium service and product is considered the industry’s
very best.”
Etihad
Airways’ investment in its in-flight product continues to win
global recognition and industry praise.
In
recent years the airline has won Skytrax awards for its onboard Food
and Beverage Managers in Business Class; for its Poltrona
Frau luxury leather First Class seat; and now, after the
introduction of onboard First Class Chefs, it has won all
three First Class award categories.
Mr
Baumgartner added: “We are immensely proud of being the youngest
airline with the fastest rise into the elite group of best airlines
listed in the Skytrax ranking.
“Air
travellers who take part in the survey vote on every element of their
travel experience, and this recognition indicates that our premium
innovations pay dividends as
they meet the expectations of the discerning traveller who again
voted us the best.”
The
Skytrax World Airline award winners come from the votes and findings
of a ten month survey of nearly 18 million air travellers from more
than 100 countries.
Etihad
Airways received praise at the Skytrax 2012 awards for offering a
five-star restaurant style of service in its Diamond First
Class cabins. This has been achieved through the introduction of
a personal Onboard Chef who prepares dishes based on a passenger’s
individual taste and preference.
Edward
Plaisted, CEO of SKYTRAX, said: “Etihad Airways continues its
winning record across these First Classawards, and has shown
itself to be a key leader in the First Class market.
Winning all three of these First Classawards is a great
achievement and a true reflection of the quality of product available
to passengers flying in
its First Class cabin.”
The First
Class Chefs complement Etihad Airways’ Food and Beverage
Managers, who
work across the PearlBusiness Class cabins.
The Chefs and Food and Beverage Managers are recruited globally from
top rated hotels and restaurants and drive the airline’s
multi-award winning Inspired Service onboard program.
Supporting
Etihad Airways’ goal to offer its customers the freshest,
healthiest and tastiest in-flight cuisine, the airline has recently
started serving its own produce from Abu Dhabi Organics Farms
as part of its Diamond First ClassMezoon Grille menu.