Etihad Airways has landed all three First Class titles at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2012.

The ’hat-trick’ of awards picked-up by the Abu Dhabi-based airline are:

• Best First Class
• Best First Class Seats
• Best First Class Catering

Etihad Airways has now won the Best First Class title for three consecutive years. The First Class accolades follow the airline’s previous successes in the Skytrax Best Business Class awards which underlines the airline’s leading premium product position.

The prestigious awards, one of the leading rankings and benchmarks in the airline industry, were presented at the Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony held yesterday, Thursday 12 July, at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: "To once again win every available Skytrax Award in the First Class category is a fantastic achievement for Etihad Airways. The Skytrax awards are renowned across the world for reflecting the thoughts and views of millions of air travellers and we are delighted that our premium service and product is considered the industry’s very best."

Etihad Airways’ investment in its in-flight product continues to win global recognition and industry praise.

In recent years the airline has won Skytrax awards for its onboard Food and Beverage Managers in Business Class; for its Poltrona Frau luxury leather First Class seat; and now, after the introduction of onboard First Class Chefs, it has won all three First Class award categories.

Mr Baumgartner added: "We are immensely proud of being the youngest airline with the fastest rise into the elite group of best airlines listed in the Skytrax ranking. Air travellers who take part in the survey vote on every element of their travel experience, and this recognition indicates that our premium innovations pay dividends as they meet the expectations of the discerning traveller who again voted us the best."

The Skytrax World Airline award winners come from the votes and findings of a ten month survey of nearly 18 million air travellers from more than 100 countries.

Etihad Airways received praise at the Skytrax 2012 awards for offering a five-star restaurant style of service in its Diamond First Class cabins. This has been achieved through the introduction of a personal Onboard Chef who prepares dishes based on a passenger’s individual taste and preference.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of SKYTRAX, said, "Etihad Airways continues its winning record across these First Class awards, and has shown itself to be a key leader in the First Class market. Winning all three of these First Class awards is a great achievement and a true reflection of the quality of product available to passengers flying in its First Class cabin."

The First Class Chefs complement Etihad Airways’ Food and Beverage Managers, who work across the Pearl Business Class cabins. The Chefs and Food and Beverage Managers are recruited globally from top rated hotels and restaurants and drive the airline’s multi-award winning Inspired Service onboard program.

Supporting Etihad Airways’ goal to offer its customers the freshest, healthiest and tastiest in-flight cuisine, the airline has recently started serving its own produce from Abu Dhabi Organics Farms as part of its Diamond First Class Mezoon Grille menu.

Photo Caption: Lee Shave, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Guest Experience (left) and Calum Laming, Etihad Airways’ Head of Guest Experience (right), celebrate winning the 2012 Skytrax Awards for Best First Class, Best First Class Seats, and Best First Class Catering.

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