Air New Zealand named Airline of the Year
Penton Media’s Air Transport World®, the leading monthly magazine covering the global airline industry, today announced the selection of Air New Zealand as its Airline of the Year for 2010.
The Auckland, N.Z.-based carrier is being honored for its superb commitment to safety and operational excellence, typified by the use of Performance Based Navigation cockpit technology at weather and terrain challenged destinations, and for its superb and groundbreaking customer service that combines high-tech, passenger-friendly IT systems with high-touch and caring staff.
The editors further cited Air New Zealand’s sterling financial performance and fiscal management during one of the most turbulent periods in aviation history. They also were strongly impressed with the airline’s leadership role in addressing environmental challenges facing the industry, including conducting the world’s first sustainable biofuel flight.
Sydney, Australia-based Regional Express was named Regional Airline of the Year. Rex, as it is known locally, is recognized for its superior safety record and operational excellence, demonstrated by outstanding punctuality and flight completion.
The editors also applauded the “Rex Virtuous Cycle” model in which Rex competes against itself by adding capacity as load factors rise, causing fares to fall. As a result, enplanements have doubled over the past five years, while airfares have dropped 30%, excluding fuel levies; and it earns consistently high marks in consumer polls. Rex’s strategy rewards shareholders, too: It has been profitable for the last six years.
In a rare joint award, Honeywell Aerospace and Rockwell Collins were selected for the Aviation Technology Achievement Award to recognize their advanced cockpit weather radars. These systems are playing a vital role in improving safety of flight, reducing turbulence-related injuries and boosting operational efficiency.
“Competition drives innovation and technological advancement. As Rockwell Collins and Honeywell Aerospace have sought to leapfrog each other in weather radar technology, the beneficiaries have been flight crews and the flying public,” ATW Editorial Director Perry Flint said.
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