Etihad Airways voted world's leading airline

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Etihad Airways voted world's leading airline

Etihad also picked up the award for Leading First Class

# Agencies
# Published: 21:53 November 9, 2009

Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has taken the top award at this year's World Travel Awards (WTA), being voted World's Leading Airline by more than 180,000 travel industry professionals from over 175 countries.

The World Travel Awards recognise the very best airline, hospitality and tourism brands in the world, with industry experts vetting nominations for their customer relations, creativity, quality of service, product innovation and business acumen.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: "Three years ago, Etihad set itself one clear and simple goal, to be the best airline in the world. I am proud of the way Etihad people all over the world have embraced that vision, supporting our investment in state-of-the-art products by delivering superb customer service.

In addition to being named World's Leading Airline, Etihad also picked up the award for Leading First Class for the second year in a row.

Hogan said: "Winning the Leading First Class category two years in a row tells us that our commitment to continuous investment in our product and service is the right strategy for us and for our customers.

"As we move into 2010, we intend to cement our place as the world's best airline, opening up new routes, taking delivery of new aircraft, investing in new products in the air and on the ground, and introducing a range of online initiatives to make travelling with Etihad better than ever," he added

 

[johnny333]

Where does SIA stand nowadays

Haven't heard of them winning any surveys for some time now

 

[shOUTloud]

Etihad is the new Emirates! They are throwing money to become the best in the world! More money where it came from.

 

[po2wq]

datz ... absurd! ... n totally divorced fr reality! ...

 

[oli9]

What about Tiger Airways? Are they still top of the charts for "Will Leave You In A Lurch At 1st Sight"?

 

[zuoom]

Etihad is the new Emirates! They are throwing money to become the best in the world! More money where it came from.

nothing but first class.

Emirates been around for quite a while. i remember in the late 90s when they were already comparable to SIA (at that time.) and they just continue to improve n pulled away.

 

[tonychat]

Congrats to them and sinkies can't match such high quality service.

 

[johnny333]

What about Tiger Airways? Are they still top of the charts for "Will Leave You In A Lurch At 1st Sight"?

Tiger Airways just shows how low the Spore brand has sunk.

If you look at the various Spore companies out there, I don't see any which has made it. LKY must be very proud that after all these years there's not much to show

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Etihad is the new Emirates! They are throwing money to become the best in the world! More money where it came from.

Emirates belong to Dubai

Etihad belong to Abu Dhabi

Both are sister states in the federation called UAE.
United Arab Emirates

 

[oli9]

Tiger Airways just shows how low the Spore brand has sunk.

If you look at the various Spore companies out there, I don't see any which has made it. LKY must be very proud that after all these years there's not much to show

That is true. For all of MM's loving embrace of putting scholars to helm his family's businesses, Im very surprised he approved of a DIPLOMA HOLDER FT (A useless Brit) as CEO of Tiger Airways. Or was it because of the foreign nationality that supercedes whatever defeciencies in this brit's academic qualifications.
And despite of all the bad reports & remarks in foreign media (not intentional but the fact is, Tiger's service do suck big time), why dont our local journalists interview Tiger & find out what seems the problems? Is it lack of govt support? or financial support? Or was it as plain as "If you want to get a job done, dont employ a Foreign Diploma Holder"?

 

[oli9]

Emirates belong to Dubai

Etihad belong to Abu Dhabi

Both are sister states in the federation called UAE.
United Arab Emirates

SIA belongs to Spore Govt (aka Temasek 54.48%, the rest are bank Nominees)

Tiger belongs to SIA (49%) & Temasek (11%)

Both are brothers in the federation called Spore.

Big brother & small brother are miles apart. One is good at sucking, the other just sucks.

 

[johnny333]

why dont our local journalists interview Tiger & find out what seems the problems? Is it lack of govt support? or financial support? Or was it as plain as "If you want to get a job done, dont employ a Foreign Diploma Holder"?

It's the failure of an autocratic state.

Maybe an elite family member or a close friend is in Tiger Air screwing things up.

Why would local journalist risk their jobs & be labelled as trouble makers It's easier & safer to carry balls

Thats why the Spore system is a failure. When its more important "who you are related to "or "know" then 'meritocracy' takes a back seat.

 

[oli9]

It's the failure of an autocratic state.

Maybe an elite family member or a close friend is in Tiger Air screwing things up.

Why would local journalist risk their jobs & be labelled as trouble makers It's easier & safer to carry balls

Thats why the Spore system is a failure. When its more important "who you are related to "or "know" then 'meritocracy' takes a back seat.

That is why I think Shanmugam is talking rubbish. Our media is ranked 133th is not without reason!!!!

 

[longbow]

Lousy name if they want global brand recognition. But it just goes to show how the learning curve can be shortened by emulating the leaders.

Very easy to be a top airline. Buy the latest planes, give more legroom, leather seats, better food and entertainment (lower margins). Then hire the managers and service crew from SIA, Cathay etc. In 5 years they will be the leaders. At the very least the system of management, service will filter through to the Abu Dhabi local staff and thereby shorten their learning curve.

 

[cocobobo]

yeah its well-known etihad poaches extensively from sia. if you go to etihad's apartment blocks in abu dhabi where they house their cabin crew you'd think you're in some parallel hdb universe where sg chicks rule

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Lousy name if they want global brand recognition. But it just goes to show how the learning curve can be shortened by emulating the leaders.

Very easy to be a top airline. Buy the latest planes, give more legroom, leather seats, better food and entertainment (lower margins). Then hire the managers and service crew from SIA, Cathay etc. In 5 years they will be the leaders. At the very least the system of management, service will filter through to the Abu Dhabi local staff and thereby shorten their learning curve.

That is what people said about Emirates when it started off years ago. Wont make the grade and all that. The skeptics were proven wrong by a long shot.

Emirates became one of the largest airlines in the world with world class reputation, winning awards year after year. It is now a premier global brand and continue to enjoy that status, and still expanding with new routes. It is the biggest customer of Airbus and Boeing.

Part of the reason is that Emirates ( whose chairman is a harward educated shiek of the royal family ) ran it like a professional and the top brass of the airline are mostly British airline professionals.

Etihad airline is now coming up the ladder,,and following ditto the path chosen by Emirates.

 

[ahleebabasingaporethief]

Where does SIA stand nowadays

Haven't heard of them winning any surveys for some time now

Etihad pays good wages and perks. Employees will go ALL OUT and pia for them.

Ass-Eye-A cuts wages and perks. Employees where will 'pia' for you?

Like GARMENT say "You Die Your Own Business'.

Employees also have same human mindset but opposite: "Lu Ki Si Ka Ho".

Lesson here is always treat your employees well. Never for the sake of money do u employ inhuman tactics like bringing in cheaper FTs to compete with your own people..

There will always be a backlash.

My company has NO FTs and WILL NOT employ even PRs.
​

 

[oli9]

Part of the reason is that Emirates ( whose chairman is a harward educated shiek of the royal family ) ran it like a professional and the top brass of the airline are mostly British airline professionals.

Im 200% confident that the Emirates only recruit Britons with DEGREE HOLDERS & sufficient direct experience in the airline industry. Not some half baked, bangers & mash + pints of beer guzzler, DIPLOMA HOLDER Brit who runs a local airline with no physical business address.
Only losers & el cheapos flies from our Budget Terminal.