THE WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS - 2006

British Airways has been announced as the 2006 Airline of the Year in the World Airline Awards published today. In second place is Qantas, with the 2005 winner, Cathay Pacific, ranked in 3rd position for 2006. Full results

The 2006 World Airline Awards ® are based on the annual World Airline Survey conducted by Skytrax - carried out between September 2005 and May 2006. The survey measures over 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction for each airline's product and service standards - evaluating the 'typical' travel experience.

Airline of the Year 2006

1 British Airways
2 Qantas
3 Cathay Pacific
4 Thai Airways
5 Emirates

"the Awards recognised by the world"
Commenting on the World Airline Awards, Edward Plaisted (CEO, Skytrax) said

......"the World Airline Survey is recognised across the globe as the leading independent monitor of passenger opinions - the survey process offering the only truly worldwide project, with open and uninfluenced results. The final total of 13.61 million eligible, completed survey interviews was beyond our expectations, and we pay tribute to all those customers who participated." "Our congratulations go to the 2006 Airline of the Year winner, British Airways. In contrast to several previous year surveys, we found that the level of nominations for British Airways by their premium passengers was proportionately much higher than that of other airlines in the Top 10 rankings - clearly they are doing something right in that particular market.

An airline undergoing considerable changes and cutting product levels to compete across Europe with the low-cost airline competition, a key element to emerge in the passenger voting for British Airways was that it performs well in terms of general product and service consistency."

"Qantas takes the 2nd place Silver Award, repeating their 2004/5 performance, and demonstrating that they are well-established amongst the top quality airlines in the world. A strong performer in other 2006 Category Awards, we will be watching with interest to see if they can push themselves into the top position next year!" added Plaisted. The 2005 winner, Cathay Pacific, ranks 3rd for the 2006 Awards, with Thai Airways in 4th place, and Emirates in 5th. Full results

BEST INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Emirates maintain their global leadership for Best Airline Inflight Entertainment, again securing 1st place in this ever more competitive category - Singapore Airlines 2nd, and Virgin Atlantic 3rd. Full results

BEST CABIN STAFF
Thai Airways scored another major success, named Worlds Best Cabin Staff for 2006 - with Qatar Airways moving from 5th last year to take 2nd place in the 2006 Awards, and Malaysia Airlines taking 3rd position. Full results

BEST ONBOARD CATERING
Gulf Air maintain their leadership across the Best Airline Catering sections of the World Airline Awards, ranking 1st, 2nd and 5th in the respective awards for First Class, Business Class and Economy Class. Full results

BEST BUSINESS CLASS
British Airways long haul, Club World Business class proves a winner, taking the award as Best Business Class for the second consecutive year - ahead of South African Airways (2nd) and Virgin Atlantic in 3rd. Full results

How to avoid lost luggage

One of the biggest gripes of airline passengers around the world is that they are forced to run the gauntlet every time they check baggage, risking precious items being lost or broken along the way.
If the worst happens, an entire holiday can be disrupted or even ruined by a delayed bag containing that all-important suit or dress, so how would you feel if you knew that airlines in the U.S. alone lost around 10,000 items of luggage during 2005?

To try to prevent the stress that comes with this, Tim Jacobsen, Vice President of Luggage Online, and Brooke Dowd, the editor of travel blog Wellpacked.com, have come up with some handy hints and tips.
One of the simpler solutions is to take your bags as carry-on, although with restrictions on size and weight getting tighter all the time this is not always possible. You could always just pack your valuables in your carry-on, so you at least know the expensive stuff is safe, Dowd says.

Jacobsen notes that another easy way to avoid taking a risk on baggage handlers is shipping your luggage. "UPS and FedEx are more reliable than the airlines," he says, "and they have much better tracking technology in place".
For those who want a simpler (and cheaper) solution, there are several things you can do to reduce the chances of your bag being the unlucky one that goes astray.

By booking direct flights there is less confusion and less opportunity for your luggage to get misplaced. The same is true if you check-in earlier and remove all old destination tags from your bags.
Finally, putting your name with your luggage, as well as making it stand out from the crowd by attaching a colorful ribbon or tag, will also reduce the chances of it getting misplaced. If you include an itinerary of your travel as well then it will make tracking you down a lot easier if the worst happens.

No cabin pressure-DVT link

The common belief that the pressurized atmosphere in the cabin of a long-haul flight will lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been rejected by a group of British scientists.
Researchers from universities in Leicester and Aberdeen have carried out tests in hypobaria chambers with healthy volunteers, designed to simulate an eight-hour flight, to see if their risk of contracting DVT is increased.
Dr William Toff from the University of Leicester said: "Our study provides, for the first time, a controlled assessment of the effects on blood clotting of the low air pressure and low oxygen level that might be found during a long-haul flight.
"We found no evidence that these conditions cause activation of the blood clotting mechanism."
Dr Toff added that although the cabin conditions unique to flying had no link to DVT, the act of sitting still for several hours had already been proven to increase the risk.
He urged passengers on long-haul flights to do regular leg exercises and get up and walk around the cabin "when conveniently possible".
The Department for Transport in the UK has published the full report online.

TSA spotting new security technique

Reports suggest that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) is preparing to introduce a new security initiative based around passengers' behavioral patterns.

Screening Passengers by Observational Techniques, or SPOT, as it will be known, has been trialed at several airports in the northeast over the past few years and the TSA is now ready to enlist its help on a wider scale.
TSA Director Kip Hawley told Reuters that the program would be expanded after the summer travel season was over but would not identify precisely which airports would be participating.

"We have been very pleased with its effectiveness," Hawley said. "We expect it to be an important part of our security going forward."
The system uses professionals to observe passengers and look for unusual or anxious behavioral mannerisms as they stand in line at security checks. The TSA is careful to point out that random checks will not be racially or ethnically motivated.

It will not replace the traditional checks of luggage and metal detectors but is intended to be a supplement to them. Officials said that it would be a less cumbersome system than the current government "watch lists" and security databases used by the TSA.

Tips for international travel preparation

Before you go: Consult a travel medicine clinic or your doctor as soon as possible before the trip. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests going four to six weeks before the trip.

If vaccinations are needed, this will allow time for the body to build up immunity or allow time if a series of shots are required, says Dr. Ted Sofish with Occupational Health Associates in Chambersburg, Pa.
This visit to the doctor also will help you determine what medical items you'll need to take. It helps to know your itinerary so you can tell the doctor how long you will be away, what type of accommodations you will have (hotel or camping), and what types of areas you will visit (urban or rural). Visits to remote rural areas can have greater health risks.

Lower elevations are more prone to mosquitoes, Sofish says.
Vaccinations: Few vaccines are required by International Health Regulations, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a list of recommended vaccines depending upon the destination.

Yellow fever vaccination is required for people to go to certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, according to the CDC.
The government of Saudi Arabia requires meningococcal vaccinations for annual travel during the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, the CDC states.
Other vaccinations, such as Hepatitis A, might be recommended depending on the destination.

Health insurance: Check with your health insurance provider about coverage abroad.

Social Security's Medicare program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States, according to the State Department's Web site. Senior citizens may contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical-care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.

Infectious diseases: Travelers can check with the WHO or CDC to find out what infectious diseases might be occurring in their destination country.
There have been recent mumps outbreaks in Venezuela, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine and a measles outbreak in Nairobi, Kenya, according to the CDC's Web site.

Pre-existing medical conditions and prescriptions: Travelers with pre-existing medical conditions should consult their doctors because health risks can be greater for those travelers, according to the WHO.

The State Department recommends such travelers carry a letter from their doctor describing the condition and prescribed medications, including generic names for the drugs. Leave medications in their original, clearly labeled containers.

Since some prescription medications can be considered illegal narcotics in other countries, travelers should check with their destination's foreign embassy about carrying their prescriptions abroad.
When you get back: The World Health Organization recommends certain travelers get a medical exam upon their return.

This includes:
· People with a chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease.
· People who are ill in the weeks after they get home, especially if symptoms include a fever, persistent diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, urinary disorders, skin disease or genital infection. People with a fever and who were in a malaria-endemic area need to seek medical attention immediately.
· People who think they were exposed to a serious infectious disease while traveling.
· People who spent more than three months in a developing country.

IATA says global airline industry will lose $3 billion in 2006

IATA, the global airline industry body, said today that airlines will lose $3 billion in 2006, just slightly below the outturn for 2005.

"We are starting to see some light at the end of a five year tunnel—some cautious optimism" said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association at the opening of the World Air Transport Summit and IATA Annual General Meeting in Paris.


Bisignani noted tremendous progress in airlines since crisis struck the industry in 2001. "Labour productivity improved 33%. Sales and distribution costs dropped 10% and non-fuel unit costs reduced 13%," said Bisignani.

"Oil remains the wild card. The break-even fuel price increased from US$14 per barrel to US$50 since 2001. But in just one year, the fuel bill ballooned US$21 billion and is expected to top US$112 billion this year," said Bisgnani.


"While the fuel price continues to race ahead of efficiency gains, it is truly amazing that profitability has not deteriorated from last year. Losses for 2006 will be US$3 billion, slightly less than the US$3.2 billion recorded for last year," said Bisignani.

"We must remember that the strong revenue environment—10% annual growth over the last three years—is also fragile. A weaker global economy could change our prospects dramatically. Change is more important than ever," said Bisignani.