Makeover puts British Airways on top

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2008 | by Dan Reed

HOUSTON -- British Airways officials shamelessly promoted their carrier as "The World's Favourite Airline" until 2001, when it stopped being even Europe's biggest, arguing that even if U.S. carriers were bigger, theirs was better by every measure of quality, and much preferred by travelers who had an option.

These days, CEO Willie Walsh might be tempted to bring that slogan back.

It is still just Europe's third-largest carrier, behind both Air France-KLM Group and Lufthansa, which also owns Swiss International Air Lines. But after a six-year makeover that has sharpened its focus on serving high-fare-paying first- and business-class international fliers, Walsh can make a good argument that BA has become the world's most successful international carrier. Its...