Shortlist Unveiled for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards

CHICAGO, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- OAG (Official Airline Guide), the world's authority on flight information, today unveiled the shortlist for the 26th OAG Airline Industry Awards (www.oagairlineawards.com ). The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 4 June in the opulent art deco setting of The Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London. Boeing is the Awards' headline sponsor.

A total of 45 different airlines, three more than in 2007, have received nominations in 15 regional and global categories.

Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are nominated for best airline based in North America, while the nominees for best airline in Central, South America and the Caribbean include Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana and TAM Brazilian Airlines. In 2007 the respective winners were Continental and Aeromexico. Airlines within North American are also strongly represented in the best Transatlantic category with three of the five nominees being US carriers.

"It is often overlooked that globally there are nearly 1,000 airlines and 3,500 airports trying to attract the attention and business of the world's frequent and occasional travelers, explained Alan Glass, CEO of OAG. "Not surprisingly the categories for best North American carrier and best on the Atlantic routes are among the most competitive of the entire OAG Airline Industry Awards."

Alan Glass continued, "The management and staff of all the 45 airlines nominated for this year's OAG Airline Industry Awards should be immensely proud of their accomplishments over the last 12 months. The nominees have already been voted among the very best in the world in their respective categories and we at OAG congratulate them on this achievement."

Leading the field in terms of multiple nominations for 2008 is last year's "Airline of the Year", British Airways, which along with Singapore Airlines has six nominations. British Airways and Singapore Airlines, both five times winners of the coveted "Airline of the Year" title, are followed by American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa with four nominations apiece. First time nominees in 2008 include Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Tarom and Virgin Nigeria.

Nominees for the world's best airport include two US hubs, New York JFK and San Francisco International, plus Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International, and Singapore Changi. Reflecting the closeness in the voting, 2007's best airport, Seoul Incheon International, just missed out on the shortlist this year.

"There is no question that the last 18 months has been at times a turbulent one for many airlines and airports, but OAG's worldwide customer and subscriber base have spoken up, as they have for the past 26 years, to vote in large numbers for the airlines and airports that they consider to be the best in the business," added Alan Glass. "As in previous years our customers, the world's frequent flyers, have thrown up some perennial favourites, as well as some interesting surprises among the nominees. The fact that after 26 years we can still have four first time nominees reflects just how dynamic and global our industry remains."

The annual "OAG Airline Industry Awards", sponsored by Boeing, celebrates the very best in global air travel and publicly recognises the highest standards within the industry. The complete list of nominations for 2008 follows, and can also be accessed at www.oagairlineawards.com .

     Best Airline Based in North America
     Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines,
      United Airlines

     Best Airline Based in Central/South America & Caribbean
     Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, LAN Airlines, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian Airlines

     Best Airline Based in Asia
     Sponsored by The Bird Group
     Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai
      Airways

     Best Airline Based in Australasia/Pacific
     Sponsored by 15Below
     Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Virgin Blue

     Best Airline Based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent
     Sponsored by The Bird Group
     Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways

     Best Airline Based in Africa
     Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, South African Airways,
      Virgin Nigeria

     Best Airline Based in Central/Eastern Europe
     Sponsored by Daedalus Sales & Marketing Consultants
     Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Czech Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, MALEV
      Hungarian Airlines, TAROM

     Best Airline Based in Western Europe
     Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa,
      Virgin Atlantic

     Best Transpacific Airline
     Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines,
      United Airlines

     Best Transatlantic Airline
     American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines,
      Virgin Atlantic

     Best Europe -- Asia/Australasia Airline
     British Airways, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa,
      Singapore Airlines

     Best Low Cost Airline
     Sponsored by The Bird Group
     easyJet, jetBlue, Jetstar Airways, Ryanair, Southwest Airlines

     Best Economy/Coach Class
     Sponsored by Travelport
     American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air,
      Singapore Airlines

     Best Business/Executive Class
     Sponsored by Travelport
     American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa,
      Singapore Airlines

     Best International First Class
     Sponsored by Travelport
     British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines

     Best Airport
     Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Hong Kong International,
     New York JFK, San Francisco International, Singapore Changi

     Best Freighter Operator
     Amerijet International, Cargolux Airlines, Cathay Pacific Cargo, KLM
      Cargo,
     Lufthansa Cargo

     Best Airline Lessor
     Aviation Capital Group, AWAS, Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management,
     DAE Capital, Engine Lease Finance Corp, Jetscape

     Best Airline Finance Deal
     Engine Lease Finance Corp (GSI engine sale), Macquarie (acquisition of
      GATX Air),
     Morgan Stanley/Credit Suisse (Continental Airlines EETC), RBS Aerospace
      (Airspeed securitization), Seabury Group (Northwest restructuring),
      TAM (bond issue)

About OAG (Official Airline Guide)

OAG (www.oagcorporate.com ) is a global flight information and data solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business travel markets. It brings together buyers and sellers of air travel and transport through the management and distribution of airline product information; the supply of corporate travel planning tools; and the promotion of travel and transport products.

The business is underpinned by its data management expertise. It is best known for its airline schedules database which feeds the world's global distribution systems and travel portals and drives the internal systems of many airlines, air traffic control systems, aircraft manufacturers, airport planners and government agencies.

OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com ) a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com ).