JEDDAH, 27 May 2008 -- British Airways has been awarded the title of 'Best European Airline' at the annual Business Traveler Middle East Awards in Dubai. This is the seventh consecutive year that the UK airline has won the award.
Despite chronic delays, lost luggage and the prolonged chaos that accompanied the public opening of London Heathrow's Terminal 5, British Airways came out ahead of Lufthansa, adjudged second and Air France, third.
After receiving the award, handed over by the well-known UK television presenter Martyn Lewis CBE, Paul Starrs, British Airways' commercial manager, Middle East, said that the award was a great tribute to the airline's industry leading premium products, services and competitive pricing policy.
"This marks the 7th consecutive year that we have won this coveted award. The premium travel sector is an important market for British Airways and our successes at the Business Traveler Awards demonstrate the enduring quality and affordability of our premium products and services," said Starrs. The readers of Business Traveler magazine named BA as the best European airline in an annual survey of airlines around the world. They also voted in several other travel-related categories, including favorite airport, best hotels, golf courses and car rental firms.
BA currently operates regular service from the British capital to destinations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, as well as to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
While flights still depart from, and arrive at Heathrow's older Terminal 4, BA plans to transfer all of these routes over to the new Terminal 5 within the next several months.
By Roger Harrison
© Arab News 2008
