Etihad Airways, the national airline of theUnited Arab Emirates, received the ‘Best First Class’, ‘Best First Class Seats’, and ‘Best First Class Catering’ honours at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2012. This is the third consecutive Best First Class title for Etihad in the awards.

The airline won the three First Class awards for offering its travellers a five-star restaurant style of service in its Diamond First Class cabins, following the introduction of its onboard Food and Beverage Managers in Business Class, its Poltrona Frau Luxury leather First Class seat and onboard First Class Chefs. The First Class accolades follow the airline’s previous successes in the Skytrax Best Business Class awards which underlines the airline’s leading premium product position.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: “We are immensely proud of being the youngest airline with the fastest rise into the elite group of best airlines listed in the Skytrax ranking. Air travellers who take part in the survey vote on every element of their travel experience, and this recognition indicates that our premium innovations pay dividends as they meet the expectations of discerning travellers who again have considered us the industry’s very best.”

SKYTRAX’s Chief Executive Officer, Edward Plaisted said, “Etihad Airways continues its winning record across these First Class awards, and has shown itself to be a key leader in the First Class market. Winning all three of these First Class awards is a great achievement and a true reflection of the quality of product available to passengers flying in its First Class cabin.”

Etihad Airways’ investment in its in-flight product continues to win global recognition and industry praise. For the convenience of Pakistani travellers, Etihad currently operates 23 weekly flights from Pakistan to Abu Dhabi – daily from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad; and bi-weekly from Peshawar.