Exclusive: Asia's best airlines

Business Asia, Dec, 2000 by Nadia Cameron

Airline travel in Asia is recovering at a remarkable pace, and carriers are eagerly expanding their passenger and cargo services to complement the trend. So just who of Asia's airline carriers can offer you the best services? In our exclusive readers' poll, Business Asia readers put across their vote on Asia's best airlines.

QANTAS AIRWAYS has topped the tally as Asia's preferred airline with a double win in Business Asia's exclusive reader survey, Asia's best airlines.

In a tight battle between 14 premier airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific, Business Asia readers have voted Qantas as both Asia's Best B2B/Business Airline and Best Bulk Cargo operator.

With the increasing amount of businesses using air travel as both a mode of opening their business opportunities as well as transporting their goods, Qantas has succeeded in gaining an impressive lead in two of the highest regarded service sectors driving the airline industry.

Confronted with this dramatic growth in airlines carriers, Business Asia's airline survey was aimed at giving readers the chance to vote for their favourite Asian airlines. It was also aimed at giving Business Asia readers the opportunity to take a look at and determine which airlines are flying highest in the sky.

The readers' poll was divided up into four categories: Best B2B/Business Airline, Best Bulk Cargo, Best Passenger Airline and Best Freight Forwarder. In each category, a list of airlines in the Asian region was sent to a wide variety of Business Asia readers. Respondents were asked to rate each of the 14 passenger/business airlines and 13 cargo/freight forwarding operators according to their level of service, from below average to excellent.

From an overwhelming response, Qantas won two of the four nominated categories. Singapore Airlines gained the highest number of votes for its passenger services, closely followed by Qantas, Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand. Also a strong contender for the title of Best Business carrier, Singapore Airlines has proven its award-winning status is reflective of the high esteem it holds within the Asian business community.

In the Freight Forwarding category, DHL received the highest ratings as the best Asian transport provider. A surprisingly close finish, DHL held out against its seven other competitors including Ansett Air Freight and FedEx to gain recognition for its efficient and superior transportation services.

The winners

BEST BUSINESS/B2B AIRLINE:

Qantas

Qantas was the first airline to introduce business class to its passengers, and despite growing competition, the flying kangaroo hasn't lost the knack for it.

Now in its 80th year, Qantas travels to 124 destinations and 62 major cities around the world, an impressive growth since its initial inception as a joyride and air taxi service.

Qantas offers its customers a core fleet of 104 aircraft and 41 subsidiary aircraft, and has announced its intentions to buy a further 31 aircraft in the next 10 years, as part of its long-term fleet plan. These will comprise of 12 Airbus A3XXX planes, the world's largest commercial aircraft, to meet longer-term passenger growth on key routes between Australia, the UK and the US.

Qantas' commitment to improving regular flights, particularly throughout the Asian region, has been boosted further by several new alliances with Asian-based airlines, including a codeshare agreement with Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines, announced in November.

As a business customer, Qantas passengers have access to a wide variety of services. There's the renowned Qantas Club service, available before flights to international business customers and members in 45 locations and 200 partner airline lounges. New "dreamtime" seats with adjustable positions have also been introduced to business class, alongside individual video and sound facilities and an on board newspaper and magazine library.

BEST BULK CARGO: Qantas Freight

Qantas Freight prides itself on being able to air freight three primary products: cargo, mail and express services. And according to those surveyed, they don't disappoint.

Qantas Freight has made several improvements to its freight services over the past 12 months, especially in the Asian region. Four new B747 freighter planes have been introduced specifically for Australia to Asia services, extending services each week to Jakarta, Taipei and Singapore.

Committed to improving its facilities, Qantas Freight has been involved in various upgrades to its Australian terminals. In Sydney, a $4.5 million upgrade was completed this year. In addition, major redevelopment has begun at Melbourne Airport to modernise the international air freight site. This will be completed in 2001.

The freight company has also placed an emphasis on improving its e-commerce facilities by offering customers freight tracking solutions via the website, or by e-mail. New on-line facilities include e-bookings, airway bills and functions to print code labels for goods. Customers can even access freight shipment status information via their WAP-enabled phone.