ANA, Five Star Airline Flies High at Global Awards

The airline, which operates direct routes from London, Paris, Frankfurt and Munich among others, has earned its stripes this year with five new awards, including these latest wins for World's Best Airport Services and Best Cabin Cleanliness.

Widely recognised as the global industry benchmark, SKYTRAX's World Airline Awards are based on the world's largest annual airline passenger satisfaction survey, which covers over 200 airlines. The survey questioned travellers from over 160 countries, measuring satisfaction across more than 38 key performance indicators of airline front-line product and service, including check-in, boarding, on-board seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, in-flight entertainment and staff service.

In addition to these latest wins, ANA is the latest and only Japanese airline to join the high flyers of the air travel industry after securing the prestigious five-star rating from leading quality research organisation, SKYTRAX, in March. Just six other airlines have achieved the exclusive classification, which evaluates no fewer than 800 individual elements from the airport to on board services.

ANA also received Airline of the Year at the Air Transport World awards, along with the Network – Global Airlines and Lowest Global Cancellations awards from FlightStats.

Commenting on the airline's achievements, Mr Toshitaka Watanabe, SVP of customer satisfaction, products and service said: “This five-star status, along with our recent awards, is a testament to the effort and innovation put into our service and our commitment to delivering the highest quality customer experience. Over the last two years, ANA has focused on providing a true international service in order to succeed in future global competition, and to achieve our goal of becoming Asia's number one airline, setting standards worldwide.”

ANA has a solid reputation in providing exceptional customer experience. Inspired by the high standard and ethos of traditional Japanese hospitality (Omotenashi), the airline's front-line airport services promise simplicity and incomparable luxury before departure. To guarantee a speedy and stress free departure, ANA provides an individual check-in service for first class passengers before going into their range of luxury airport lounges that feature shower rooms, a salon, noodle bar, and business booths with wireless LAN available.

In flight, passengers are treated to ANA's signature product and service concept, the ‘Inspiration of Japan', featuring full flat-bed business class seats (the first for a Japanese airline), first class suite seats for extra privacy, and fixed back shell seats in both of its economy classes. Passengers also have access to AVOD in-flight entertainment system with iPod connectivity, as well as premium cabin touch screen consoles.

Further blending the old and new of Japanese culture, ANA's in-flight amenities emphasise the small details, offering 100% biodegradable and sustainably sourced bamboo lap rugs, expertly crafted menus using seasonal and fresh ingredients, and a hand-picked wine selection.

Mr Edward Plaisted, chairman of SKYTRAX, added: "We congratulate ANA for this fantastic double-success, in a year that also sees it receive the top global quality rating as a five star airline. The award for providing the World's Best Airport Services is testament not only to the high standards of ANA airport staff service, but reflects their strong levels of service consistency that users particularly commented on.

“The award for Best Aircraft Cabin Cleanliness is a new category for 2013, and was introduced to reflect the importance of cabin cleanliness in the overall customer travel experience. ANA was particularly commended for the standard of cabin cleanliness and cabin presentation, together with a consistent quality of cabin washroom cleanliness."

This year's SKYTRAX World Airline Awards will take place at The Paris Air Show on June 18th 2013 and will be attended by Mr Toshitaka Watanabe, Senior Vice President of customer satisfaction, products and service.