Milwaukee-based Midwest Express Airlines was named å“Best Economy/Coach Classå” Airline in the world by OAG at its 20th annual Airline of the Year Awards competition. Other nominees for the award included Air Canada, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Overall, Midwest Express was among 47 airlines nominated in 17 categories ranging from Best Low Cost Airline to Best International First Class.

“This is a wonderful honor for us, because it means travelers recognize and appreciate our efforts to provide unparalleled customer service,” said Clifford C. Van Leuven, Midwest Express’ vice president of Customer Service, who accepted the award on the airline’s behalf at a ceremony in London on May 14. “Despite the difficult times the industry and our company are experiencing, it is our employees’ commitment to providing ‘above and beyond’ service that will return us to historic levels of profitability.”

“The OAG Airline of the Year Awards publicly recognize the highest standards within the industry and all the nominees should feel exceptionally proud of their achievement, in what has been an extremely difficult year,” said Eddie Bell, chairman of OAG. He added that the awards provide a fitting opportunity for OAG to demonstrate its continuing support, to pay tribute to the industry`s strength and resilience, and for the industry to celebrate its achievements.

The awards are based on a questionnaire completed by a worldwide audience of OAG frequent business travelers, with results independently verified by the research company of Taylor Nelson Sofres. OAG is the world’s leading independent provider of travel information products and services, offering business travelers, corporations and the global travel industry the information necessary to make effective travel-planning decisions.

Midwest Express Airlines features nonstop jet service to major destinations throughout the United States. Astral Aviation, Inc. - its wholly owned subsidiary - operates Skyway Airlines, The Midwest Express Connection, which offers connections to Midwest Express as well as point-to-point service between select markets on regional jet and turboprop aircraft. Together, the airlines fly to 50 cities. More information is available at www.midwestexpress.com.

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