The travelling public has once more confirmed that Gulf Air’s on-board catering is unrivalled. The airline has received the 2006 Skytrax Award for 'best onboard catering excellence' for a third consecutive year.
Skytrax Awards provides the most prestigious recognition of outstanding quality excellence for product and customer service delivery across today's world airline industry.
“The introduction of onboard chefs by Gulf Air a couple of years ago set a new benchmark for onboard catering standards,” said Gulf Air President and Chief Executive James Hogan.
“Whilst this is concentrated on the premium end of the aircraft, the concept has resulted in a much more notable improvement to Gulf Air onboard catering standards across all cabins, and more importantly this consistency of quality has been maintained over three successive years.”
These independent awards are the result of the most comprehensive analysis of product and service standards and have become a bench mark for aviation industry for their products and services.
Skytrax in announcing the 2006 awards said that Gulf Air dominated the 2006 Best Airline Onboard Catering Survey which was achieved as a result of 2,046,117 eligible survey interviews, during the nine-month project period.
As well as achieving the Best First Class Catering title, there was a 2nd place in the Best Business Class Catering category and 5th position up from 6th last year, in Best Economy Class Catering.
“These awards are based on 'real' quality standards - in other words, the actual quality of product and service being delivered, every hour of every day, to an airline's customers,” commented Skytrax Director Marketing Peter Miller in a statement.
The icing on the cake came with the news that Skytrax voters had voted Gulf Air as the Best Regional Airline in the Middle East region category.
"The fact that these awards are customer–decided rather than industry-decided underlines customers' confidence in Gulf Air and we will spare no efforts to keep up the goodwill we have earned from our passengers and in the aviation industry,” says Head of Inflight Services and Cabin Crew Michael Kent.
"The award reiterates our penchant for quality standards and passion for providing the best for our discerning passengers. Gulf Air is passionate about maintaining its world class standards when it comes to onboard services.
“Our unique Sky Chef, Sky Nanny and the range of food we offer in all cabins have set new standards for inflight services in the aviation industry.”
The latest award follows a growing list of industry accolades for Gulf Air. The airline recently won the prestigious Mercury “Gold” award in the on board service category and was also named “overall winner” by the International Travel Catering Association (ITCA) for its innovation, quality in application and customer satisfaction in onboard service.
The airline also won, in December 2005, two major awards at the PAX International Readership Awards Ceremony- one for "best new product launch" in inflight service for catering, service, design and delivery, and the other, for the "Middle East region's best airport restaurant" for its restaurant at Bahrain International Airport lounge.
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 50 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A platform for sustained commercial operation has been established over the past three years as part of a multi-phased turnaround programme. It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’smart airline, successful business’ vision.
International recognition has been achieved as a result of the turnaround programme leading to numerous awards for the airline’s innovative and high quality products and services: These include:
• Best Onboard Catering in First and Business Class (Skytrax World Airline Catering Awards 2005)
• Best designed in-flight magazine (American Creativity Awards,2005)
• Middle East Leading First Class Airline (World Travel Awards 2005)
• World’s Leading Airport Lounge (World Travel Awards 2005)
• Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline (MENA Travel Awards 2004
• Most Improved Airline (Skytrax Awards 2004)
• Middle East First Class Airline (Arabian Business Awards)
• Best new product launch for in-flight services (PAX international Readership Awards)
• Best First Class Onboard Food (Skytrax Food Category 2004)
• Best Business Class Check-in (Skytrax Check-in Category 2004)
• Middle East region’s best airport restaurant for its restaurant in Bahrain International Airport lounge (PAX International Readership Awards 2005)
