America names Emirates top airline for passenger service

Air Transport World honoured the fast-growing international carrier with the "Passenger Service Airline of the Year" award at the 29th Annual Airline Achievement Awards Dinner at Washington's Capital Hilton Hotel. Emirates SkyCargo also won a silver award for corporate advertising.

Jay Donoghue, ATW's editorial director, said: "Emirates is entering the US market with top marks for excellence and worldwide recognition. This honour, not necessarily given annually, is awarded only when it is truly deserved.

"US travellers between Dubai and North America will soon have the opportunity to learn what we at ATW have determined: Emirates is one world-class airline," Mr Donoghue said.

Emirates will launch services between the US and Dubai in 2004, and had previously won the same award in 1992. It won again this year for delivering top quality standards to passengers in all classes of service.

The award, one of the aviation industry's most highly-respected honours, reflects Emirates' reputation among frequent international flyers as a leader in in-flight luxury, comfort and safety.

Jim Baxter, Emirates' vice president, North America, said: "Every airline faced monumental pressures this year, and we're particularly pleased to win as we prepare to enter the highly competitive American market. It means that people who know international air travel best look to us as a global leader in delivering an incomparable passenger experience."

Emirates, set up in 1985, now serves 64 cities in 45 countries with one of the world's most modern fleets. Its First Class features state-of-the-art airport lounges with full business facilities, swift check-in and boarding, eight-course meals, a personal video library and in-flight entertainment with the latest films.

Its Business Class features exclusive check-ins, comfortable Business Lounges with Internet access, personal satellite phones in every seat and meals planned by leading world chefs. In Economy, ergonomically designed seats with generous legroom go hand-in-hand with full five-course meals and warm, genuine hospitality.

Emirates is one of the world's fastest growing international passenger and cargo airlines, offering an important gateway to Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. In 2004 It will launch daily non-stop services between New York and its Dubai home base, and plans to fly to other North American cities soon afterwards.

In November 2001, it placed a $15 billion order for new Boeing and Airbus aircraft in a move to boost its fleet to more than 100 planes by 2010.