Emirates wins clutch of awards in 10 million voter survey

Emirates Airline won a clutch of awards in a 10-million voter survey announced by web-based Skytrax, including Best Economy Class, Best Airline to the  Middle East - and second overall in the Best Airline category (1st Singapore Airlines, 3rd Cathay Pacific).

Favourable voting by passengers helped Emirates launch a considerable challenge for the top prize, with the airline even achieving the title position on several occasions throughout the 10-month period of the survey.

Commenting on what was its closest ever survey result, Peter Miller, Skytrax’s Director of Marketing, said: “Had it ended a few weeks earlier, who knows which of the three airlines would be holding the Award!"

He went on to say: "The dividing margins between 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were just a few thousand nominations, and in taking the survey Silver Award for a second consecutive year, Emirates was also the recipient of the Best Economy Class and Best Middle East airline titles. Again, key factors of support behind the Emirates voting were their standards of cabin staff service, onboard catering and in-flight entertainment.

"Skytrax Airline Surveys are now recognised across the world as the leading global monitor of passenger opinions - the survey format process offering the only truly global project with open and uninfluenced results. The final total of 10.8 million eligible, completed survey questionnaires was beyond our expectations, and we pay tribute to all those customers who participated."

Passengers worldwide voted in the online Skytrax Airline of the Year survey over 10 months – the final 2004 survey figure of 10.8 million voters is the same as if every man, woman and child in Portugal had voted! 

Emirates’ Chairman, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said: “It is gratifying to know that our customers are satisfied with the level of service we offer, so much so that they are happy to participate in the Skytrax survey.

“Although we carry out onboard surveys at regular intervals to keep abreast of our customers’ preferences, it is important to be benchmarked in such an encompassing survey such as this, so that we can learn and strive to maintain an even better level of service excellence.”

In another development, Sri Lankan Airlines, in which Emirates has a 43.6% stake, plus a management contract over ten years, was voted the Regional Best Airline for Central Asia/Indian subcontinent, for the fourth successive year.

Skytrax is a leading research advisor to the world airline and air transport industry. Established in 1989, it is a private company based in London.