Lord Marshall honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
Continental Airlines was last Thursday 20 May named OAG Airline of the Year 2004 at a glittering ceremony at The Park Lane Hotel, London. It is the first US-based carrier to win the title since the awards were established 22 years ago. Continental, whose London hub is Gatwick, also won the Best Business Class category and was voted Best Airline based in North America in the OAG awards, and was short listed in three other categories. Our photo shows (from left to right), Eddie Bell, chairman OAG, Tim Kennedy, Continental's Managing Director Europe/Middle East Sales & Marketing and Les Higgins, OAG CEO
OAG also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Lord Marshall, Chairman of British Airways. Eddie Bell, Chairman of OAG, praised Lord Marshall”s great contribution to the airline industry over the last 20 years saying: ”He has done a spectacular job, in difficult circumstances, for the airline industry.”
The Outstanding Service Award, presented to airline or airport staff who have acted above and beyond the call of duty, was awarded to bmi stewardesses Karen Cornelius, Sally Cast and Ellen Davies, whose quick thinking and cool heads saved a passenger who suffered a massive heart attack on board a flight from Chicago to London. Using bmi”s special diagnostic equipment, the stewardesses linked up via satellite with doctors on the casualty unit of an Arizona hospital and literally helped save passenger Stephen Clarke”s life. (on the left) Ellen Davies is seen below with bmi managing director Austin Reid and Sally Cast. http://www.oag.com
OTHER AWARD WINNERS
Best Airline Based in North America = Continental Airlines
Best Airline Based in Western Europe = British Airways
Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe = CSA Czech Airlines
Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent = Emirates
Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean = LanChile
Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific = Qantas Airways
Best Airline Based in Asia = Singapore Airlines
Best Airline Based in Africa = South African Airways
Best Low Cost/No Frills Airline = Virgin Blue
Best Economy/Coach Class = Singapore Airlines
Best Executive/Business Class = Continental Airlines
Best International First Class = Singapore Airlines
Best Trans-Atlantic Airline = British Airways
Best Trans-Pacific Airline = Cathay Pacific Airways
Best Europe to Far East/Australasia Airline = Singapore Airlines
Best Airport = Dubai International
Best Marketing Campaign = United Airlines for ”We Are United”