Virgin wins best airline awards

[November 7th 2008]

Virgin Atlantic has won no less than three awards for best airline, including best business class and best economy class airline, at the British Travel Awards.

In the best business class airline category, Virgin pipped Emirates. Runner up in the best economy class category was British Airways. Virgin was also triumphant as best scheduled long haul airline, again beating Emirates into second place.

"This is an amazing achievement. The travellers that voted clearly love flying with us whether they are in Upper Class or Economy which is a tribute to our people, our innovative products and high standards in customer service," says Virgin Atlantic chief executive, Steve Ridgway.

The other airlines winning top honours at the British Travel Awards were easyJet, British Airways and Monarch. easyJet was voted best low cost/no frills airline ahead of Monarch. But Monarch triumphed in the best leisure airline category, with Thomsonfly in second place. British Airways was named best scheduled airline Europe, with Monarch again scooping second place.

In the airport categories, Gatwick airport was voted best UK airport for leisure travel ahead of Manchester airport. Heathrow airport won best UK airport for business travel, and Manchester airport was again runner up.

In other categories, Holiday Extras was voted best airport parking company with BCP in second place, and Holiday Taxis was named best holiday transfer company ahead of Resorthoppa.

Best destinations were also honoured. The Balearic island of Majorca managed to secure runner up spot in both the best beach holiday destination and best city break destination categories. The winners were Barbados and New York respectively.

In the UK, the Lake District won best UK destination, with London runner up. Best UK theme park/attraction was Alton Towers, with the London Eye in second place.

Written by: Nick Purdom