Airline of the Year 2002 survey unveiled

Survey data was gathered through Online Customer Surveys, Corporate Travel Questionnaires and Onboard / Airport consumer interviews. Final rankings for the Survey:

1. Emirates
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Deutsche Lufthansa
6. Continental Airlines
7. Virgin Atlantic Airways
8. American Airlines
9. ANA All Nippon Airways
10. Air Canada

British Airways takes the title for Best Airline Transatlantic; Cathay Pacific is Best Airline Transpacific, while Hong Kong's other resident airline, Dragonair is Best Airline China.

Deutsche Lufthansa is Best Airline Central Europe, SAS Scandinavian Best Airline Northern Europe, CSA Czech Airlines Best Airline Eastern Europe, and Portuguese carrier, PGA Portugalia is Best European Regional Airline.

South African Airways is Best Airline Africa; Kenya Airways Best Airline East Africa and Tunisair Best Airline North Africa. Amongst low cost carriers, US based Southwest Airlines is Best Low Cost Airline, beating the UK's easyJet into 2nd place, and Australia's Virgin Blue into 3rd position.

Singapore Airlines receives the Best Long Haul First Class award, British Airways Best Long Haul Business Class and Emirates for Best Long Haul Economy Class.

Commenting on the results, Edward Plaisted, chief executive of Skytrax said "the level and quality of customer response for this 2002 survey overwhelmed us. The events of September 11 had the effect of encouraging consumers to air their views and opinions in an even more enthusiastic manner ... hence the final total of over four million nominations. The survey is the worlds' largest Airline Passenger survey and the only global study that covers just about all customer types from every corner of the globe. Emirates owes its success to a well rounded package of service and product quality - whilst Cathay Pacific offers a superior First Class product and is introducing upgraded Business Class service, passengers said their service can lack character. It is these softer touches that often determine the final results. British Airways result is influenced by its front-end cabin standards, with their Economy product not finding much support amongst customers. Singapore Airlines achieves a strong position in 3rd, and Lufthansa has growing support in this year's results. North American carriers sometimes slip on service quality, but Continental Airlines puts in a good showing at 6th -Virgin Atlantic's innovative measures seem to have lost some appeal as they slip to 7th position. The scale of this survey is unmatched, and it now represents one of the most prestige awards throughout the world airline industry. "