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UK airlines score highly in travel awards

UK based airlines have done well in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller magazine awards, with BA voted best business airline and easyJet best low cost airline, but only one UK airport features in the top 15.

As well as being voted best business airline by readers of Conde Nast Traveller, British Airways also took second place for short haul leisure airline and third place for long haul leisure airline. Business travellers on BA particularly liked the in-flight entertainment and loyalty reward schemes.

Taking top spot, with a score of 86.5 out of 100, for best short haul leisure airline was Swiss. The flag carrier scored highly for its range of routes, scheduling and child friendliness. Top rated for in flight entertainment in this category was Finnair, while the best for luggage handling was KLM. BMI British Midland was third best airline overall for short haul holiday flights, and Virgin tenth.

For long haul holiday flights, Singapore Airlines picked up yet another award to add to its growing list. The airline, the first to start flying the new Airbus A380 superjumbo, scored best for punctuality and efficiency. Virgin Atlantic came second overall in the long haul leisure category, and got highest marks for its airport lounge facilities. Virgin was also runner up in the best business airline category.

The soar away winner of the best low cost airline category was easyJet, which scored above 90 in five out of eight categories including value for money, range of routes and child friendliness. Runner up was Richard Branson's Australian airline, Virgin Blue, which got top marks for baggage handling and punctuality/efficiency. bmibaby was voted fourth best low cost airline, and Flybe was fifth best.

The only UK airport in the top 15, coming in at 15th, was Manchester airport with a score of 73.34 out of 100. Best airport in the world based on votes by Cone Nast Traveller readers was Madrid Barajas. The Spanish airport was voted joint cleanest in the world with Changi, Singapore airport, but Madrid's new terminal helped it score higher for design and layout. Changi airport was placed third overall and Vancouver airport second.

Hong Kong International airport scored best for baggage handling and Kuala Lumpur airport for flight information and clarity of signs. Best airport parking facilities went to Helsinki-Vantaa and best airport shopping and duty free to Tokyo Narita.

Written by: Nick Purdom