SilkAir wins 'Regional Airline of the Year 2011' award

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, has been awarded the Regional Airline of the Year 2011 by CAPA – the Centre for Aviation, a leading aviation research body.

Every year, CAPA awards outstanding performance in various sectors of the aviation industry and the CAPA Regional Airline of the Year is awarded to a regional airline that has had the most significant impact, shown strategic leadership and demonstrated innovation in regional aviation.

Commenting on the win, SilkAir’s Chief Executive, Marvin Tan, said the team at SilkAir is deeply honoured to receive the award.

“This award and the airline’s success validate our belief that the increasingly sophisticated and well-informed traveller seeks value and good customer service, which SilkAir is constantly striving to enhance.

We have also maintained a clear focus on our role within the greater Singapore Airlines network, as a full-service regional feeder providing seamless connectivity with our parent airline,” he said.

According to CAPA Chairman, Peter Harbison, the body considered SilkAir deserving of the award for the role it has played as an effective regional feeder to its parent company, Singapore Airlines, over a period when new competitive threats have abounded.

“In a very crowded marketplace, SilkAir continued effectively to exploit its market niche.

At the same time SilkAir delivered its Singapore Airline parent important traffic feed, as well as a substantially enhanced profit.

As other airlines in the region explore suitable models to remain competitive in the future, SilkAir offers a valuable precedent,” said Harbison.

The award was presented to Tan at a gala dinner held in conjunction with the Aviation Outlook Summit in Singapore yesterday evening.

A full-service premium airline, SilkAir currently flies to 37 destinations across 11 countries and is the regional wing of Singapore Airlines.

This year, the airline was ranked second in the Best Regional Airline (Asia) category in the 2011 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Last year, the airline was inducted into TTG Asia’s Travel Hall of Fame following its tenth win as Best Regional Airline in the TTG Travel Awards 2009.

SilkAir was also ranked among the top 10 Airlines for Best Cabin Service Worldwide 2011, 2010 and 2009 by Hong Kong-based online travel magazine, Smart Travel Asia.