The 2009 OAG Airline Industry Award results

For 27 years, the OAG Airline Industry Awards has honored the very best in global air travel. In fact, the OAG awards are considered to be the equivalent of the Oscars for the global airline industry. This year’s winners include the following:

OAG Airline of the Year 2009

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline based in Asia

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways

Best Airline based in Australasia/Pacific

• Winner: Qantas
• Finalists: Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar, Virgin Blue

Best Airline based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent

• Winner: Emirates
• Finalists: EL AL, Etihad, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways

Best Europe to Asia/Australasia Airline

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas

Best Transatlantic Airline

• Winner: Virgin Atlantic
• Finalists: British Airways, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines

Best Transpacific Airline

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, United Airlines

Best Economy/Coach Class

• Winner: British Airways
• Finalists: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines

Best Executive/Business Class

• Winner: Continental Airlines
• Finalists: British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic

Best International First Class

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates

Best Airport

• Winner: Singapore Changi
• Highly Commended: Heathrow
• Finalists: Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Kuala Lumpur International

OAG winners are chosen by asking frequent flyers to consider which airlines they have flown on in the past 12 months in each of OAG’s award categories. They are then asked to rank and vote online for their top three airline choices in each category and the results are calculated based upon a formula that takes into account how many times an airline was voted 1st, 2nd or 3rd by each traveler.