Qantas CEO accepts Airline of the Year Award

The Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Airways, Geoff Dixon, accepted the Air Transport World magazine Airline of the Year award last night at a ceremony in Singapore.

The Awards, in their 30th year, recognise excellence in the airline and commercial aerospace industries. Announcing Qantas as this year's overall winner, Air Transport World praised Qantas' relentless focus on excellence in the air combined with leanness and flexibility on the ground.

Presenting the award, Air Transport World Senior Editor, Geoff Thomas, said: "Any airline that can increase profits during the Asian currency crisis and remain profitable after 9/11 and last year's SARS outbreak is certainly made of the right stuff. Throw in an unsurpassed record for safety and technical excellence, a well-earned reputation for superb customer service, a commitment to cost containment and a willingness to try new things and you have this year's Airline of the Year."

Mr Dixon said it was an honour to accept the award on behalf of everyone at Qantas as recognition for the airline's achievements over the past year and as a standard of excellence for Qantas going forward. 

"The success of Qantas is a team effort. Over the past few years Qantas, like all airlines, has experienced massive short-term shocks and serious long-term challenges. We have dealt with these shocks and challenges by pulling together, and drawing on the adaptability and initiative of our people right across the Qantas Group.

"Those of us in leadership roles at Qantas are only too aware that we are custodians of an Australian icon. To protect this brand, and its core values of service, safety, quality and technical excellence, we cannot stand still or look back nostalgically to a sepia tinted past. We will survive and prosper only by being ready to innovate, improve and adapt," Mr Dixon said.

"Qantas intends to remain strong, independent and globally competitive. We can only do this by continuing to be very responsive to all the pressures that are changing our industry, while maintaining the standards and the Australian personality that put value into the Qantas brand.

"This award will motivate us to keep improving," Mr Dixon said.

Qantas was last presented with the Air Transport World Airline of the Year Award in 1996.