Financial Times

SriLankan number one in German airline hit parade
SriLankan Airlines has shot to number one in the 2003 survey of Economy Class service by the popular German travel magazine Reise & Preise (Travel & Price), the company announced. It beat big-timers Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific.

Over 8,000 readers participated in the survey of Economy Class service of 62 international airlines. The Reise & Preise survey is the largest and most detailed airline survey in Germany. The current survey's results were based on 8,172 questionnaires filled in online. The participants are frequent flyers on Economy Class.

The survey covered the condition of the cabin, comfort of seats, catering, cabin crew service, general service, entertainment, communication and entertainment, technology and price-performance ratio.

This is the third such 'Reise & Preise' award for SriLankan Airlines in three consecutive years. Last year SriLankan cruised into the Top 05 Airlines category for 'Best Economy Class Service' outdoing the ninth position it occupied in the same poll the previous year.

Says SriLankan's CEO Peter Hill: "The results of the Riese & Preise survey is evidence that we are up there with the big boys in the international commercial aviation field. We are naturally delighted with this award that brings us closer to achieving our vision of being the most preferred airline in Asia."

SriLankan Airlines recorded a net profit of Rs 1.3 billion for the year ended 31st March 2003, a year in which most other airlines were still fighting the slump in international air travel following 9/11.

Furthermore, punctuality is now at an all-time high of 90% which exceeds the performance being obtained by many of the world's leading airlines. Ever since its re-branding and upgrading in 1999 SriLankan has won many international awards and accolades.

The airline has won the Skytrax Award for the Best Airline in Central Asia for three consecutive years since 2001, the TTG (Asia) Best Airline in South Asia Award in 2002, Skytrax's World's Friendliest Cabin Crew Award 2002, First Runner Up in the Skytrax Best Cabin Staff Award for 2003 and most recently, Avion's Best Inflight Entertainment Award 2003 for a Fleet Size of 20 or Less. SriLankan Airlines flies to 32 destinations in 21 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

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