Air Transport World (ATW), the leading media brand serving the information needs of the global airline and commercial air transport communities, announced today that All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and only 5-Star airline, was named “Airline of the Year”. This is the second time in five years that the airline has received this prestigious award.
The 2018 Airline of the Year award will be presented as the top honor at ATW’s 44th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards Ceremony on March 27, 2018, at The Mansion House in Dublin, Ireland.
The ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards recognize excellence across a broad range of airline operations and are widely considered as the most coveted in the air transport industry. To win ATW’s Airline of the Year award, an airline must demonstrate exceptional achievements and capabilities across operations, financial performance, customer service, safety and labor relations. Its executive leadership must also clearly show innovation and strategic thinking that sets the company apart.
“While there was stiff competition this year, we at ATW are proud to bestow this award to ANA,” said Karen Walker, editor-in-chief of ATW. “With everything from its commitment to customer service to its global partnerships and superb management, ANA showed that it stood above its competitors.”
ANA, in its submission to ATW, cited several top accomplishments, built on a record of outstanding safety, performance, innovation and service. That has included new advances in customizing passengers’ needs at all stages of the airport experience, including the check-in counter, lounges and at the boarding gate.
ANA also has expanded in North America, adding Mexico City and Tokyo routes, and a new daily flight between Los Angeles (LAX) and Narita (NRT). And it became the first airline to support the XPRIZE foundation and to contribute in making the world a better place for mankind; launched ANA Global and enhanced benefits to ANA Mileage Club members; and began inaugural flights of its latest Star Wars™ themed aircraft, C-3PO™ ANA JET, a continuing project that now has four Star Wars livery planes.
“We are honored to receive the Airline of the Year Award and to have been recognized for the dedicated efforts made at ANA,” said Yuji Hirako, president and CEO of ANA. “This has been a remarkable year for ANA as we continued to expand internationally, deliver the highest level of customer service and differentiate ourselves in the competitive airline industry.”
Previous recent recipients of the ATW Airline of the Year award include American Airlines (2017); Etihad Airways (2016); Southwest Airlines (2015); Delta Air Lines (2014); ANA (2013); Air New Zealand (2012); and Emirates (2011).
