The results of the latest airline survey by respected business magazine Capital (Issue 20, on sale date 18 September 2003) have again underlined the broad quality and abilities of the carriers of the Austrian Airlines Group. The domestic airline group came out on top in two of the European competition categories - those for Best European Airline and Best Regional Airline - and finished amongst the crème de la crème of intercontinental carriers.
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For the sixth year running, Lauda Air was able to confirm its position as the unrivalled Airline of the Year in Europe, closely followed by Austrian in second place. Mr Christian Fitz, Managing Director of Lauda Air, made the following comment: “To have received this award for an amazing sixth time is still more evidence of our ability to provide quality at the very highest level!” Overall scores improved significantly, confirming the company’s highly successful mix of top service, safety and an excellent price-performance ratio.
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The top players are drawing ever closer together in the Intercontinental Airline category, with as little as 0.03 award points separating the top three contenders. Asian airline Cathay Pacific managed by a hair’s breadth to stay in top position, while Lauda Air took an outstanding second place with its overall mark of 1.75.
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In the new Regional Airline category, Austrian arrows - operated by Tyrolean finished in first place ahead of Lufthansa City Line and Crossair. Johann Messner, Managing Director of Tyrolean Airways, made the following statement on the airline’s top ranking: “In regional aviation, you have a relatively short time in which to persuade the passenger of the company’s professionalism and efficiency. We were happy to have the opportunity to analyse our product so comprehensively against our competitor airlines, and are delighted with the result.”

Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group, was understandably upbeat about the results of the industry survey: “In what has been a difficult year, the Austrian Airlines Group has managed not just to hold onto its leading position but to improve upon it. We are exceedingly proud of our employees and of the fact that we are now attracting new passengers all the time.” The survey was based on information collected on a total of 40,000 flights made in 2003 and from around 6,000 completed passenger questionnaires. The number of responses constituted a new record for the 17 years in which business magazine Capital has carried out the survey, which sets a benchmark for airline standards today.
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