SriLankan Airlines became the toast of the region’s airline industry when it was chosen as the ‘Leading International Airline’ at the second annual South Asian Travel Awards 2017, convincingly beating other airlines from several countries, while SriLankan’s Business Class was named the ‘Best in Class’ among all airline cabin classes in the region.
The awards were presented at a gala ceremony at Equator Village Resort in Addu City on Gan Island in the Maldives on October 28. Awards were presented in 50 categories covering the entire travel industry, including, full service airlines, low cost airlines, hotels, various types of resorts, conference facilities, travel agencies, tour operators, adventure tourism, wellness centres, airports, travel technology providers, transport providers, and even industry CSR activities.
Siva Ramachandra, SriLankan’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to add yet another prestigious award to our collection of global and regional accolades. It is creditable that our own customers had made their choice.”
Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales Delivery at SriLankan Airlines, said: “These awards demonstrate the high all-round quality of SriLankan Airlines, from the choice of destinations that we provide our passengers, to our superb product and service, both in the air and on the ground throughout our global route network.”
SriLankan has won a host of accolades in recent times, including: ‘World’s Leading Airline Operating to the Indian Ocean Region’ at the World Travel Awards; ‘Best Full Service Airline in Central and South Asia’ for the second consecutive year at the Future Travel Experience Asia Awards; ‘Best International Airline - Asia’ at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards;‘Most Innovative Marketing Airline in China’ by Life Weekly magazine; and ‘Best Airline in South Asia’ at the Top Travel Awards, also in China.
Just weeks ago, SriLankan Airlines was honoured with a prestigious Four Star Rating by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) in the first ever global airline industry rating program based solely on feedback from passengers. In the quest to be chosen as the ‘Leading Airline in South Asia’ SriLankan Airlines overcame competition from Air India, Indian Airlines, Druk Air, Himalaya Airlines and Nepal Airlines who were the other nominees.
The ‘Best in Class’ category featured competition among various First Class, Business Class and Economy Class products of nominees who included Air Asia, Air India and Jet Airways.
Sri Lanka’s award-winning national carrier, a member of the prestigious oneworld global airline alliance, operates a route network of 106 cities from its hub in Colombo, with a fleet of modern aircraft that feature flatbeds in Business Class and sophisticated in-flight entertainment, in addition to its world class service famed for caring and warmth.
The first South Asian Travel Awards was held in Sri Lanka in 2016 and India will be the host of next year’s awards ceremony.
The awards are endorsed by business chambers and travel industry chambers throughout South Asia, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation, Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators, Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents Maldives, Association of Travel & Tour Operators India, Association of Professionals in Tourism India, Kerala Hotel General Managers’ Club, and Nepal Tourism Board.