Five-Star Airline-Airport Pairs

We have been stranded in stormy Legaspi for two days already, as I write this article in our hotel room. Inspite of the rains, we did visit several historic sites here and tried to put ourselves at the time the big volcano had one of its biggest eruptions and buried the old Cagsawa Church and people then fled to safer ground at Daraga. Since the time we arrived on Thursday, April 30, clouds and rain covered the majestic Mayon and we could not have the privilege of experiencing its perfection.

Running a great airport like the Mactan Cebu International Airport demands much time and effort from everyone. It requires the highest level of management and leadership in orchestrating the performance of a wide spectrum of technical and supervisory competences among airport, airline and other government and private organizations operating there. It is for this reason that we highlight and honor the world’s best airlines and airports today.

Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong International

Cathay Pacific has been voted Best Airline for 2009 by Skytrax, a UK-based aviation research organization.

Edward Plaisted (CEO of Skytrax) said ... “the Cathay Pacific victory this year is the third occasion in the last ten years they have won this prestige title. A factor behind the Cathay Pacific win is clearly the consistency of product and service that they provide to their customers. Not only is Cathay Pacific satisfying their passengers on the flights, but the ratings they achieved for their airport operations in Hong Kong also played a considerable part in this success.”

The survey was operated over an 8 month period (August 2008 to March 2009), during which time 16.2 million air travellers completed a wide range of survey nominations - for the Airline of the Year title, together with regional and other award categories. 

From the time it started in 1946 with two surplus DC3 aircraft; and two years later - flying to Manila, Rangoon, Singapore, Bangkok and Macau; through starting with its first jet in 1962 with the Convair 880 and celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2006 that brought Dragonair as its wholly owned subsidiary, Cathay Pacific has come a long way. Now, its extensive reach in intercontinental passenger and cargo flights are intertwined with Dragonair’s 20 destinations across mainland China.

In the meantime, Hong Kong Airport is Best Airport for 2008 and has been World’s best for 7 out of 10 times already. “More than 8-2 million survey questionnaires have been completed by passengers during the 10 month survey period. Passenger interviews included a detailed appraisal for more than 40 categories of product and service quality from check-in to departure, from arrivals to baggage collection - including terminal cleanliness, staff efficiency, staff courtesy, terminal signage, security processing, immigration and customers, walking distances, as well as features like shopping, dining options, internet services.”

Hong Kong Airport has also constantly been number 2, next only to FedEx Memphis Hub, in cargo, worldwide. This is because of the efficient partnership of the airline, Cathay Pacific, and the airport, Chep Lap Kok, in the synergy of its operations. Even in Cathay Pacific’s operations in Mactan Cebu, the airline has the most in international passengers and cargo the past year and in the first quarter of 2009.

Singapore Airlines and Changi International Airport

Another consistent 5-Star airline is Singapore Airlines. While it was number 2 to Cathay Pacific last 2008, Singapore Airlines was the World’s Top Airline in 2007. Being first to operate the Airbus 380 at a time of the global recession is a great challenge. But they have done this well and fly these Super Jumbos to Sydney, London, Paris and to Japan.

While Singapore Airlines flies to the capital and major cities of the world, its subsidiary, Silk Air, Asia’s leading regional airline, flies to the tourism rich and resort cities of Asia. And Cebu is proud of being a constant destination for Silk Air. Silk Air had just celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

The Singapore Changi Airport has also been a 5-Star Hub for many years. It was the number one airport in 2006 and has constantly been in the top five in the world. There are 4 Terminals in Changi. T1 was built in the 80s and is now being rebuilt, upgraded and its main theme will be Festival. T2 was built in the 90s, and retrofitted at the start of 2000 with the theme: Modernization. Philippine Air Lines docks at Terminal 2. Changi’s Budget Terminal opened just 4 years ago and is host to our own Cebu Pacific. Finally the newest, T3, just opened in January of this year - the theme: Futuristic.

Excellence in Service: the 5-Star Designation

So far there are only 6 Airlines and 3 Airports in the World that have attained the designation – 5-Star: For Airlines they are Asiana, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian, Qatar, Singapore and Kingfisher. And for Airports, only Hong Kong, Changi and Inchon are 5-Star.

We will continue to highlight the other Airlines and Airports in the next issue.

Closer to Home

I would like to announce the holding of the First Aviation Summit on July 2 at the Air Force Aerospace Museum at Villamor Air Base, Metro Manila. It will be the launching day of the Aviation Society of the Philippines. More on this good news on the next issues.