MAS Wins World's Best Economy Class Award

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama)-- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) won two awards -- World's Best Economy Class and Staff Service Excellence -- at the 2010 World Airline Awards in Hamburg, Germany, last Thursday, it was announced here today.

The World Airline Awards is based on the World Airline Survey by Skytrax of more than 40 airlines from around the world, and the winners were selected by some 18 million air travellers from 100 different nationalities in a 10-month survey between July last year and April this year, said a MAS statement.

The statement quoted Skytrax chairman Edward Plaisted as saying that the World's Best Economy Class award won by MAS reflected the quality of product and service delivered to its customers.

"The World Airline Awards are known as "The Passenger's Choice" underlining the fact that Malaysia Airlines are clearly satisfying the hardest critics - their customers," he said.

Plaisted said the Staff Service Excellence Award for Asia "recognised that airlines deliver the highest standards of staff service not only on board the flight, but also at the home base airport."

Meanwhile, MAS Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin said the airline, throughout the years, has worked hard to improve its service delivery as part of the airline-wide initiative to enhance customer experience.

"I am delighted that our efforts have been recognised by our customers. We will continuously build on our culture of putting our guests first," he said, adding that he was proud of the MAS team's outstanding performance.

-- BERNAMA

The World's Top 10 airlines in the 2010 Awards :

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

SKYTRAX AIRLINE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Airline of the Year - WINNER: Asiana Airlines

Best Low-Cost Airline Worldwide - WINNER: Air Asia

Most Improved Airline - WINNER: Garuda Indonesia

Best Regional Airline - WINNER: Dragonair

Best Leisure / Charter Airline - WINNER: Thomson Airways

Best Cabin Staff - WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Inflight Entertainment - WINNER: Emirates

Best Airport Services - WINNER: Thai Airways

Best Economy Class - WINNER: Malaysia Airlines

Best Premium Economy Class - WINNER: Qantas

Best Business Class - WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best First Class - WINNER: Etihad Airways

Best Airline : Transatlantic - WINNER: Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline : Transpacific - WINNER: Cathay Pacific

Best Airline : Africa - WINNER: South African Airways

Best Airline : Asia - WINNER: Asiana Airlines

Best Airline : Australia/Pacific - WINNER: Air New Zealand

Best Airline : C America/Caribbean - WINNER: TACA Airlines

Best Airline : China - WINNER: Hainan Airlines

Best Airline : Eastern Europe - WINNER: Malev Hiungarian Airlines

Best Airline : Europe - WINNER: Lufthansa

Best Airline : India/Central Asia - WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Best Airline : Middle East - WINNER: Qatar Airways

Best Airline : North America - WINNER: Air Canada

Best Airline : Northern Europe - WINNER: Finnair

Best Airline : South America - WINNER: LAN Airlines

Best Airline : South East Asia - WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Airline : Southern Europe - WINNER: Turkish Airlines

Best Airline : Western Europe - WINNER: Lufthansa

Best Airline Alliance- WINNER: Oneworld Alliance

Best Airline Lounge - Business Class - WINNER: Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline Lounge - First Class - WINNER: Thai Airways

Best Airline Seat - Business Class - WINNER: Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Seat - Economy Class - WINNER: Kingfisher Airlines

Best Airline Seat - First Class - WINNER: Etihad Airways

Best Airline Seat - Premium Economy Class - WINNER: Qantas Airways