FARNBOROUGH: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia received top accolades from SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, announced at the
Farnborough Air Show Thursday.

The national carrier's reputable cabin crew won the "World's Best Airline Cabin Crew" and its signature satay won the accolade as the "Best Airline Signature Dish".

Frills-free carrier, AirAsia, bagged the "World Best Low-Cost Airline" and the "Best Low-Cost Airline in Asia" titles in the world's leading passenger satisfaction awards.

MAS was also awarded a 5-star status in the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, joining an elite group of airlines in recognition for their consistent and high quality of products and services.

To top it off, MAS was installed as one of the top 10 airlines of 2012.

Commenting on this, SKYTRAX Chief Executive Officer Edward Plaisted said the recognition was "very much on the basis of the broad change seen taking place with MAS."

"We have looked across their line of products and are beginning to see a proper momentum by MAS towards being at a high service level. All of their efforts gave us the assurance that they are back on track," he said.

Plaisted also said the feat by AirAsia in being the world's best low-cost airline for the fourth consecutive year was impressive.

"It is an honour to receive this prestigious 5-star ranking and to be additionally recognised by our passengers as leading the way in service and hospitality on board Malaysia Airlines.

"Of course, this is not the end for us. With our new fleet of planes and a significant refurbishment throughout our services, we hope to win more next year," MAS Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said.

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, when asked on his airline's consistency of bagging the award for four years consecutively, attributed the success to his "great staff with great discipline."

"We fight hard to give low fares yet provide great service," he added.

The awards round off an exciting month for MAS, having joined the elite league of carriers to fly the world's largest and most eco-efficient airliner, with the launch of the first non-stop A380 service between KL International Airport in Sepang and Heathrow International Airport in London on July 2.

AirAsia has also been on a good run in terms of awards with one just last week when highly influential aviation industry magazine "Aviation Week" ranked the budget carrier as the top performing airline of 2012, beating longer' established and renowned airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Ryanair,
Europe's largest low-'cost carrier.

The World Airline Awards are the global benchmark for airline excellence, with over 18 million travellers from over 160 countries and 100 different nationalities taking part each year in the world's largest independent passenger satisfaction survey to decide the winners. -- BERNAMA