Air N.Z. and Ansett win service awards

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 27

Air N.Z. and Ansett win service awards

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

A leading American aviation magazine, "Air Transport World,” has given its annual awards for passenger service to Air New Zealand and Ansett Airlines of Australia.

As reported in the Milestones column on this page last Tuesday, the top over-all award — “Airline of the Year” — went to Cathay Pacific Airways. Air New Zealand won its category award for “consistency over the years in developing and delivering on both ends of the superior service equation.” The judges continued: “The airline has done a fine job of bringing the beauty of its nation and the friendliness of its people to airline service. The facilities, from the lounges to the airplane cabins have been decorated to reflect this. The menus have been carefully designed to represent the best of what New Zealand has to offer.

“The airline has brought all of the state-of-the-art amenities to its passenger service from sleeper seats in first class through generous seating in Pacific Class to its economy service, which maintains fare levels and service standards in keeping with others in the Pacific area — which in our opinion has the best service in the world. “In all services Air New Zealand holds its own, or is superior in the most competitive service markets in the world. The airline has a modern fleet, but its international complement of five Boeing 747-200 S achieves outstanding combinations of excellent service and economic efficiency spanning a route system that stretches all the way from New Zealand to the United States and way beyond to London and Frankfurt. This is supplemented by a fleet of new Boeing 767 s for less dense segments in the Pacific region. “Perhaps to an even greater degree,

the Air New Zealand staff excels to delivering the outstanding service to the passenger. In our experience we have found few airlines with more competent, friendly and gracious ground and flight passenger staff.” Ansett won its award for its “pioneering development of its Golden Wing frequent flyer club” — a facility extended to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch by Ansett New Zealand last August.

The judges said: “Our experience has shown that usually the most harrowing and apprehension-filled part of an air journey is on the ground. We have found few airlines that have done more to eliminate the hassle and worry of this part of a trip than Ansett. Back in February 1982 Ansett developed the concept of the Golden Wing Club, which.has grown into a full-service lounge programme at its eight major Australia stations. “It has been refined to the point that the pre-flight check-in process for an Ansett flight is almost totally painless. With the club a passenger receives separate check-in, priority baggage handling, special seating along with streamlined boarding. In addition, the lounge offers complete business and refreshment facilities including showers. There is also a valet parking service at a reasonable extra charge incorporating curb-side possibilities. You can simply drive your car to the lounge and leave it. “The lounges are among the nicest that we have seen and are nicely colour co-ordinated with the rest of Ansett’s terminal and airplane interior, giving the entire package a functional and appealing atmosphere. We feel that Ansett and its Golden Wing concept represent a significant advance in refining air travel ...” Other category award winners included Singapore Airlines (financial management) and the Boeing Company (airline technology achievement).