Oneworld has been named World's Best Airline Alliance in an award scheme based on the only truly global, independent passenger survey of airline standards and Kingfisher Airlines, which has signed a memorandum of understanding as its first step towards oneworld membership, took three top awards - Best Airline in India and Central Asia, Best Economy Class Seats and Staff Service Excellence Award for airlines in India and Central Asia.
Almost 18 million air travellers, representing more than 100 nationalities, took part in the 10-month study, conducted between July 2009 and April 2010 for Skytrax, the independent airline quality organization.
This latest prize – announced today as part of the 2010 World Airline Awards – enables oneworld to build on its lead as the alliance winning the most honours in the various industry international award schemes.
It is the current holder of the World’s Leading Alliance title presented by the World Travel Awards. oneworld has retained this accolade seven years running – ever since it was first presented. oneworld is also a three-time winner of the Best Airline Alliance title from Business Traveller magazine.
The Best Airline Alliance trophy was received on behalf of oneworld by Vice-President Corporate Affairs Michael Blunt from Skytrax Chairman Edward Plaisted at a ceremony on the sidelines of the global Aircraft Interiors Expo at Hamburg.
Skytrax Chairman Edward Plaisted said: "This is a fantastic achievement for oneworld to be named Best Alliance. The World Airline Awards are known as 'The Passenger's Choice', underlining the fact that oneworld is succeeding in satisfying the hardest critics - actual air travellers."
oneworld Vice-President Corporate Affairs Michael Blunt said: "oneworld aspires to be the world’s premier alliance, so we are thrilled to be judged the best by the people who really count – customers – in the biggest ever independent survey of international air travellers. We’ll be working hard to retain this coveted title in the future, with two more top-ranking airlines joining our collection of the highest quality carriers from each region – in Russia’s leading domestic operator, S7 Airlines, boarding oneworld later this year and India's leading carrier Kingfisher Airlines lining up to follow."
oneworld's member airlines also flew high in 2010 World Airline Awards categories for individual airlines:
• LAN Airlines took two awards – as Best Airline South America and Excellence Award for Staff Service, South America.
• Qantas also took two top prizes – for Best Premium Economy Class and Best Premium Economy Class Seat.
• Cathay Pacific Airways was named Best Transpacific Airline.
• Its Dragonair affiliate took the World's Best Regional Airline title.
• Finnair was judged Best Airline North Europe.
• Malév Hungarian Airlines was named Best Airline Eastern Europe.