Users' group names BMI airline of year

BMI has won the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland's (CCI) Airline of the Year Award, it was announced at a ceremony in Dublin today…

BMI has won the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland's (CCI) Airline of the Year Award, it was announced at a ceremony in Dublin today.

The airline also was also honoured as the best airline on routes from Ireland to London.

The annual awards are organised by CCI's Air Transport Users' Council (ATUC) and this year the winners were selected following a survey by MORI MRC of 500 Irish companies.

ATUC Chairperson Mr Tadhg Kearney said BMI's performance illustrated how "highly competitive" Ireland's air transport environment had become.

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"Historically, respondents in this survey have indicated a very strong allegiance to Irish-based carriers such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair but this year, respondents have voted strongly in favour of BMI, a carrier whose main base is in the UK," he said.

BMI Chief Executive Mr Austin Reid welcomed the awards, saying the company was "delighted". He said it was "a wonderful accolade for the company as a whole, and for the team in Ireland in particular".

Aer Lingus won the garland for best airline on transatlantic routes, while Scandinavian Airlines won best airline on European routes. Galway-based Aer Arann was awarded in the best online services category, while Ryanair won in the overall value for money section.

The awards were presented by the Minister for Transport Mr Brennan.

Conor Pope

Conor Pope

Conor Pope is Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Pricewatch Editor and cohost of the In the News podcast