Continental Airlines was named OAG Airline of the Year 2004 at a glittering ceremony at The Park Lane Hotel, London last week. It is the first US based carrier to win the title since the awards were established 22 years ago.Ê Continental also won the Best Executive/Business Class category and was voted Best Airline based in North America in the OAG awards, and was shortlisted in three other categories.Ê OAG is an independent global content management company, specializing in travel and transport and their awards are highly regarded within the industry.

The awards, based on votes polled by a worldwide audience of business travelers, attracted an array of senior figures from the aviation industry. UK television personality, Clive Anderson, presented the awards.

A brand new category was introduced for 2004, Best Marketing Campaign, which was won by United Airlines for their “We Are United UK” campaign.Ê LanChile won the award for Best Airline based in Central/South America & Caribbean for the second year running.

OAG also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Lord Marshall, Chairman of British Airways.Ê Eddie Bell, Chairman of OAG, praised Lord Marshall’s great contribution to the airline industry over the last 20 years saying:

“He has done a spectacular job, in difficult circumstances, for the airline industry.”

The Outstanding Service Award, presented to airline or airport staff who have acted above and beyond the call of duty, was awarded to bmi stewardesses Karen Cornelius, Sally Cast and Ellen Davies, whose quick thinking and cool heads saved a passenger who suffered a massive heart attack on board a flight from Chicago to London.Ê

Using bmi’s special diagnostic equipment, the stewardesses linked up via satellite with doctors on the casualty unit of an Arizona hospital and literally helped save passenger Stephen Clarke’s life.

Eddie Bell, commenting on the OAG Awards said:

“Congratulations to Continental Airlines on winning the OAG Airline of the Year Awards. Continental has consistently improved the quality of its service and this fact has been duly recognized by its customers.

“Dubai International airport won Best Airport in a closely contested category and deserves congratulations for narrowly pipping Singapore Chiangi, who have held the airport title for eight consecutive years. The winner of our Best Marketing Campaign award, United Airlines, was a witty and worthy victor, whose adverts made me laugh.

“We are especially delighted, this year, to present an OAG Lifetime Achievement Award to Lord Marshall from BA. His long standing service and valuable contribution to the industry has been magnificent, guiding BA through some turbulent times.”

The Asia Pacific region fared very well, with Singapore Airlines taking home four awards including Best International First Class and Best Economy/Coach Class. Cathay Pacific Airways won Best Trans-Pacific Airline, and Australian based Virgin Blue won best Low Cost/No Frills Airline, beating incumbent title holder Southwest Airlines as well as easyJet and Ryanair.Ê

UK flag carrier, British Airways took home two prestigious awards: Best Airline Based in Western Europe and Best Trans-Atlantic Airline.

CSA Czech Airlines won the Best Airline based in Central/Eastern Europe for the first time.

The full list of awards and winners is outlined below:
Airline of the Year 2004Ê- Winner:ÊContinental Airlines - Finalists:ÊBritish Airways, CSA Czech Airlines, Emirates, LanChile, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways Ê
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Best Airline Based in North America Ê- Winner: Continental Airlines
- Nominees: Air Canada, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines Ê
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Best Airline Based inÊWestern Europe - Winner: British Airways - Nominees:Êbmi, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS Ê
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Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe - Winner: CSA Czech Airlines - Nominees:ÊAeroflot Russian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, MALEV Hungarian Airlines Ê
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Best Airline Based in Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent - Winner: Emirates - Nominees:ÊEL AL Israel Airlines, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air Ê
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Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean - Winner: LanChile - Nominees: Aeromexico, Mexicana, VARIG Ê
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Best Airline Based in the Australasia/Pacific - Winner: Qantas Airways - Nominees: Air New Zealand, Australian Airlines, Virgin Blue Ê
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Best Airline Based in Asia - Winner: Singapore Airlines - Nominees:ÊCathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways Ê
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Best Airline Based in Africa - Winner: South African Airways - Nominees:ÊComair, Egyptair, Kenya Airways Ê
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Best Low Cost/No Frills Airline -ÊWinner: Virgin Blue - Regional finalists: easyJet, Ryanair, Southwest Ê
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Best Economy/Coach Class - Winner: Singapore Airlines - Nominees: American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, United Airlines Ê
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Best Executive/Business Class - Winner:ÊContinental Airlines - Nominees:ÊAmerican Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways,ÊSingapore Airlines Ê
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Best International First Class - Winner:ÊSingapore Airlines - Nominees:ÊAmerican Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, United Airlines Ê
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Best Trans-Atlantic Airline - Winner:ÊBritish Airways - Nominees:ÊAmerican Airlines,ÊContinental Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic Ê
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Best Trans-Pacific Airline - Winner:ÊCathay Pacific Airways - Nominees: Japan Airlines, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines Ê
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Best Europe to Far East/Australasia Airline - Winner: Singapore Airlines - Nominees: British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas Airways Ê
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Best Airport - Winner: Dubai International - Regional finalists: Atlanta Hartsfield, Singapore Changi Ê
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Outstanding Service Award - Winners: Karen Cornelius, Sally Crest, Ellen Davies, stewardesses with bmi Ê
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Best Marketing Campaign - Winner: United Airlines for “We Are United UK”
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