Skytrax World Airlines Awards

Well, readers would have noticed that I have not commented much on stocks for the past few weeks, isn't it obvious. You cannot be always in the market. There are periods which you will save a lot of money and anguish by taking holidays or playing golf.



Skytrax awards are coveted because they are voted on by some 18 million passengers. Naturally we get seduced by all the ads but most will focus only on the luxury side of things. At the end of it all, its how well you treat the economy passengers that count.

Increasingly, it is the economy passengers who are paying the airlines' bills. Business class is shrinking, premium economy and economy are growing. But most airlines still treat economy class as the riff-raff who deserve to be uncomfortable because they're not willing to pay the big bucks up the front.

Well, this year Skytrax's popular vote – by the biggest electorate in airline awards-land – has spoken loudly about seating comfort: three of the top five airlines and five of the top 10 are the ones that give economy passengers up to three inches (7.6 centimetres) more seat row space than the sardine-can airlines (like Qantas) that insist on 31-32 inches (79-81cms) per row: the overall winner, Korea's Asiana, the Middle East's Qatar Airways (No. 3), Air New Zealand (No. 5), Thai Airways (No. 9) and Malaysia Airlines (No. 10).

Significantly, Air New Zealand (33-34-inch long-haul) zoomed past Qantas (No. 7 – 31 inches) for the first time. Just as significantly, Singapore Airlines came second in the award it has won twice on the strength of its cabin service, which a number of Travellers' Check readers reckon has gone off.

The World's Top 10 airlines in the 2010 Awards :

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

Qatar Airways was named the winner of the World's Best Business Class Award at the 2010 World Airline Awards, that took place in Hamburg. WORLD'S BEST BUSINESS CLASS 1. QATAR AIRWAYS 2. SINGAPORE AIRLINES 3. ETIHAD AIRWAYS Qatar Airways was also named among the top three airlines in the world at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2010. The honour was among several awards that the airline collected at a ceremony in Hamburg. Qatar Airways global ranking among more than 200 international airlines rose to number three in the world – up from fourth spot last year, further cementing its stature as a world leading airline. Qatar Airways took the World’s Best Business Class award in one of the most hotly contested categories. The airline’s Business Class catering was recognised separately as the best in the world.

The airline also took the title for Best Airline in the Middle East for a fifth consecutive year, emphasising Qatar Airways’ competitiveness and dominance in a region boasting several world-class airlines.

Malaysia Airlines was named the winner of the World's Best Economy Class Award at the 2010 World Airline Awards, that took place in Hamburg.

WORLD'S BEST ECONOMY CLASS
1. MALAYSIA AIRLINES
2. QATAR AIRWAYS
3. SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Malaysia Airlines won 2 awards, the "Staff Service Excellence for Asia" and "World's Best Economy Class" at the 2010 World Airline Awards in Hamburg.

Etihad Airways was named the winner of the World's Best First Class Award at the 2010 World Airline Awards, that took place in Hamburg. WORLD'S BEST FIRST CLASS 1. ETIHAD AIRWAYS 2. SINGAPORE AIRLINES 3. QANTAS AIRWAYS Etihad Airways won three awards for its First Class at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, having the World’s Best First Class, Best First Class Airline Seat and Best First Class Onboard Catering. The annual Skytrax survey takes into account all aspects of the air travel experience as well as the quality of customer service delivered by each airline’s staff. "We are exceptionally proud to have won these three awards for our new and innovative First Class product and service which is now recognised as the world’s best by the ultimate judges - air travellers,” said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer.

Etihad unveiled its new First Class cabin suite in 2009. The cabin contains 12 individual suites, accessed by its own sliding door and includes a personal wardrobe and a mini bar. It also has a 23-inch wide-screen TV LCD screen and luxurious soft furnishings and leather upholstered by Poltrona Frau, which also provides interiors for Ferrari cars.

Etihad Airways 'Inspired Service' concept on the ground and in the air seeks to provide its First Class customers with service individually tailored to their needs. On the ground, First Class customers flying from the Abu Dhabi airport can take advantage of the concierge and limousine service as well as a dedicated premium check-in zone. Onboard, a food and beverage manager is on hand to assist customers during the long and ultra long haul flights.



AirAsia was named the winner of the World's Best Low-Cost Airline Award at the 2010 World Airline Awards, that took place in Hamburg.

BEST LOW COST AIRLINES
1. AIR ASIA
2. AIR BERLIN
3. VIRGIN BLUE

AirAsia has picked up two different Awards at the 2010 World Airline Awards in Hamburg. For the second year running, AirAsia was was named winner of the World's Best Low-Cost Airline award. AirAsia also picked up the Award for Best Low-Cost Airline Asia.

Commenting on the awards received by AirAsia, Skytrax Chairman, Mr Edward Plaisted said : "this is a fantastic achievement for AirAsia to be here collecting the award as World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the second year running. They are clearly meeting and exceeding their customer's expectations to have been named winner of this outstanding, global recognition. The awards represent a true recognition of the front-line product and service that AirAsia is delivering to it's customers, and the award slogan of 'The Passenger's Choice' underlines the fact that AirAsia are succeeding in satisfying the hardest critics - their users."

Genting Singapore In Cairo - Some Perspective Please

Genting Singapore said on Tuesday that one of its subsidiaries has been selected as the new operator of a casino in Egypt. The firm said Genting Casinos, an indirect wholly-owned unit of Genting UK, has entered into a casino concession agreement with Misr Hotels. Genting UK has been awarded the casino concession for The Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cairo for an initial period of 10 years. It plans to open the new operation under the brand "Crockfords on the Nile".

The move is part of Genting's strategy to expand its casino resort network. It will also strengthen and develop Genting UK's position in the premium market through its key high-end London casino clubs, Crockfords, Colony and Maxims.

The Nile Hotel, located on the banks of the Nile and in the heart of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, will undergo a major refurbishment. The hotel is considered one of the iconic developments in Cairo which has contributed to the Egyptian travel industry since it first opened in 1958.

Renovation work is expected to be completed in early 2012. Genting said the Casino concession agreement is not expected to have any material impact on its earnings in the current financial year.

My Take: If my readers can remember, in September last year I went to Cairo and had a zen moment with my camel boy. Anyway, yes, I did visit the casino as I was just as surprised as anyone that there were casinos in Cairo.

There are about 25 casinos in Cairo already. Each casino has to be within an "approved hotel", usually only one floor or a section of one floor.

All casinos in Cairo are not open to Egyptians but only to tourists, and naturally those of Islamic faith are prohibited as well. Let me tell you that the actual number of people playing there were very few. You almost can have the table all to yourself, and I am not kidding.

Hence all the casinos have less than 10 tables and less than 20 slot machines. The actual impact of having one at Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel is that it will be glitzy, but let me assure you that at any one time you will find less than 20 people playing and you can probably only put in 20 tables max. Anymore tables will just be a waste.

One of the bigger casinos in Cairo is Inter-Casino at the Ramses Hilton Hotel. It has 18 tables and 42 slots. Another is Casino Royal at Movenpick Jolie Ville Resort (yes, Movenpick) with 16 table games and the biggest number of slot machines at 154. The other big one is Taba Hilton & Casino with 19 table games and 76 slot.

Hence people should not be overly excited with the Cairo project, not when there are already 25 operators, and all catering to tourists. This is like adding two gaming tables at Resorts World, seriously folks. The problem is not with Ritz Carlton or Genting, its the number of tourists that actually visit Cairo, and spread that out to over 25 casinos in the one city - that's the problem.

Yes, being with Nile Ritz Carlton is probably the grandest of the lot, and on the Nile some more. But, do you know how many 5-6 star hotels there are on the Nile already - Four Season Cairo Nile Plaza, Intercontinental City Stars, Sheraton, Sofitel, etc... Its just another one.


p/s photo: Fiona Xie