SAA’s business class crowned number 2 in world
Johannesburg - Over thirteen million customers around the world have rated South African Airways (SAA) complete Business Class experience and product as one of the best in the world. The airline took second place in the category of Best Business Class during the 2006 World Airline Awards based on a survey conducted by Skytrax between September 2005 and May 2006.
Skytrax are world renowned specialist researchers and airline advisors. British Airways topped the list, while Virgin Atlantic, Qantas Airways and Cathay Pacific came in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.
The outcome of the survey showed customers were highly impressed with SAA’s overall Business Class offering in particular its lie-flat seat. The survey measures over 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction for each airline’s product and service standards in the airport and on board environment.
“We are grateful to our customers for acknowledging the hard work and dedication that has gone into ensuring we offer them maximum satisfaction. We are geared at improving in all aspects of our service delivery so that we can be recognised as one of the top airlines in the world. This award is just one example proving we are dedicated to excellence,” says Khaya Ngqula, SAA CEO. Meanwhile, the airline’s maintenance facility, SAA Technical received an award of excellence by Airbus for its A340-600 fleet.
The award recognises an Airbus operator who excels in all criteria taken into consideration, including optimal dispatch reliability, delay duration and utilisation of aircraft during the period November 2003 to October 2005.
“We are extremely proud of the exceptional work done by our Technical team, without which we would not have been able to achieve this recognition,” says Jan Blake, CEO SAA Technical.
