SriLankan Airlines has been awarded Best Airline of the Year in Central
Asia for 2002 for the second successive year, by Skytrax Research of UK.
Skytrax Research conducts the largest independent passenger survey in the
airline industry and this year over 4.1 million people participated, nearly
50 per cent more than last year.
The survey was conducted between August 2001 and March 2002. Survey data
was gathered through online customer surveys, corporate travel
questionnaires and onboard/airport consumer interviews.
In 2001 too, SriLankan won Skytrax's award for Best Airline of the Year in
Central Asia. Over 2.5 million people participated last year.
"The award of Best Airline of the Year in Central Asia for two consecutive
years is a singular honour for SriLankan, more so because it has been
given by none other than our customers, through Skytrax Research," says
SriLankan's Chief Executive Officer Peter Hill. "Moreover we are proud to
be in league with big players like our partner Emirates, Cathay Pacific,
Singapore Airlines and British Airways who are among the top five for
Skytrax's Airline of the Year award. Further, this award is the fourth we
have received in the last twelve months since we were awarded Best Airline
of the Year in Central Asia last year."
The other two awards were the results of reader surveys in the popular
travel magazines Wanderlust in the UK and Reise & Preise of Germany.
"Successive awards prove that since the re-launch of SriLankan in 1999,
our reputation as a quality airline, offering a superior inflight product,
is really appreciated by our customers the world over," says Hill.
Says Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax: "This is the second year in
succession that SriLankan Airlines has won the Best Airline Central Asia
title. That in itself is quite (an) achievement when viewing the size and
global scope of this year's survey, but more importantly bears testament
to the high standards being achieved by SriLankan Airlines. 2001 was a
difficult year for the airline industry, but for SriLankan Airlines this
was even harder - the attack on Katunayake Airport hit Sri Lanka hard, and
it is very pleasing to see this just reward go to SriLankan Airlines for
all their hard work in the intervening period. With a well developed
inflight product offered by the airline, the front-line staff of SriLankan
Airlines deserve praise for the high quality of service they deliver -
this Airline of the Year Award is that recognition."
SriLankan has also received Quality Approved Airline status by Skytrax and
therefore becomes eligible to be a member of its Leading Airlines of the
World organization. Quality Approved Airline status recognizes carriers
supplying the highest quality of product and service to passengers, in the
most consistent manner and gives passengers assurance of quality.
Eligibility for quality approved airline is restricted to carriers
currently rated four or five star status in the Skytrax rating
programme. |