Etihad scoops top honours at business traveller awards.

Etihad scoops top honours at business traveller awards Etihad Airways has been voted "airline with the best cabin staff and "airline with the best economy class" at this year's Business Traveller Middle East awards. The Abu Dhabi-based airline picked up the two awards at a glittering ceremony attended by 500 local and international guests at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, on the eve of the Arabian Travel Market 2008. On what was a hugely successful night for Etihad Airways the airline was also nominated in three other categories which included best airline overall serving the Middle East, best regional airline and airline with the best business class. Geert Boven, Etihad Airways' executive vice president sales and services, said: "It is a tremendous honour for Etihad Airways to win two Business Traveller Middle East awards, especially when you consider that the airline is still relatively young and has only been in operation for four years. "Etihad is extremely proud to be voted the "airline with the best cabin staff" because the cabin crew are the public face of the airline and play such an important role in serving our customers. "Furthermore, to win two of the five categories we were nominated in is a special achievement because the Business Traveller Middle East awards recognise excellence within the business travel industry and reflect the opinions of thousands of readers of the magazine." The Business Traveller accolades are the latest in a series of top awards that Etihad has received recently. In April, Etihad Guest was voted 'Programme of the Year' (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at the 2008 'Freddie' awards, which recognise the travel industry's best frequent flyer programmes. The airline also picked up 'Freddies' for 'Best Website', 'Best Award Redemption' and 'Best Customer Service'. Separately, Etihad was voted 'Best Website' at the recent 2008 Pan Arab Web awards.

[c] 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)