Asiana awarded "2009 Airline of the Year" by Air Transport World Magazine

CEBU, Philippines - Asiana Airlines was chosen as the Airline of the Year by the Air Transport World (ATW), the world’s most prestigious air transport magazine. The Airline of the Year award is given to a major or large international airline which over the years has exhibited outstanding performance in a number of airline disciplines.

Only one airline has been selected as the Airline of the Year every year since the first award in 1974 and has been the most coveted and competitive award by all the airlines in the world. After 21 years of service, Asiana is the first Korean carrier to receive such an award.

Past winners of the Airline of the Year award are major airlines which reflected outstanding performance in all areas.  There are four former winners from the Asian region; Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and JAL.

For an airline to win this award it should have provided exemplary service to the public while upholding a model safety record, been innovative in developing new markets and services, been a leader in applying new technology to the airline industry, and been consistently profitable.  Most winners of this award have won two or more ATW awards. Especially safety which is most emphasized among all factors.

Since its foundation on Feb. 17 1988, Asiana Airlines has continuously upgraded its safety and services with the philosophy of “Customer satisfaction through superiority in safety and service”.  As a result, Asiana’s service has been recognized as the best in many assessments done by Korean and foreign institutions.

According to ATW, Asiana was recognized for its superb commitment to passenger safety and operational excellence as reflected in industry leading dispatch reliability and engine inflight shutdown rates.  ATW’s editors noted that Asiana’s dedication to operating at the highest level of safety is matched by its devotion to superb customer service.  Its designation as one of only a handful of 5-Star Airlines by Skytrax speaks to that commitment as do its significant investments in inflight services and amenities and cabin attendant training. ATW’s editors also took account Asiana’s financial performance, with aggregate earnings of $542 million between 2004 and 2007.

For 45 years, Air Transport World of ATW Media Grouphas been the leading monthly magazine serving the needs of the global airline and commercial air transport manufacturing communities. Each month, 38,691 subscribers around the world look forward to reading up on the latest trends and developments affecting their businesses.  Each year, ATW publishes as part of its July issue the World Airline Report, providing detailed fleet, financial and traffic information on more than 350 airlines as well as an overview of the key events and trends of previous 12 months.  Likewise ATW publishes World Airport Report, an extensive data-driven report examining the evolution of world airport traffic by region of the world and by type of airport (intercontinental hub, continental hub, regional platform).

The award will be presented on Feb. 17 2009 in Washington, D.C., at ATW’s gala awards dinner at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.  On behalf of Asiana’s staff, President & COO Young-Doo Yoon will receive the award.

Asiana Airlines flies daily from Cebu to Seoul and to more than 80 destinations worldwide (USA, France, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Germany, etc). Asiana Airline’s Cebu office is located at International Departure Level of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, with telephone numbers (032) 342 8066 and 67.