ATW award winners feted at gala dinner

With nearly 250 industry leaders and participants in attendance, ATW's 35th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards Dinner and Gala Celebration held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington Tuesday night was an evening to remember.

Asiana Airlines President and COO Young Doo Yoon accepted the Airline of the Year Award (ATWOnline, Jan. 29). He noted that it was presented on the 21st anniversary of the airline's founding on Feb. 17, 1988. "On behalf of Asiana Airlines it is truly an honor to receive such a prestigious award," he said. He thanked the airline's customers and cited "the dedication of our staff which made it possible for us to achieve this great honor."

Flybe Chairman and CEO Jim French, who received the Regional Airline of the Year Award, paid tribute to Flybe's staff and management and emphasized the importance of choosing the right aircraft. "You can have the best brand in the world and everything can go right for you, but if you've got the wrong aircraft you aren't going to make money," he said.

ILFC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy accepted the Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service Award, named for ATW's founder. "I want to thank my family that has supported me through all my years of commitments to the airline/aviation industry," he said.

UPS Airlines President Bob Lekites received the Cargo Airline of the Year Award. "It's certainly an honor for me to accept this award on behalf of its 20,000 employees. . .It's through their efforts over the past 21 years that we have been so successful," he said.

Naverus CEO Steve Forte accepted the Aviation Technology Achievement Award. He said, "We look forward to working hand in hand with FAA and others in the industry to realize a future where aircraft burn less fuel, emit fewer pollutants and arrive on time more often."

Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos took home the Market Leadership Award. "It's hard to run an airline these days. It was even harder to start it six years ago," he recalled. And he told attendees, "You have to make travel as hassle-free as possible."

Air New Zealand GM-Public Affairs & Group Communications Mike Tod accepted the Airline Public Relations Award. He noted that much of ANZ's public relations success "has been underpinned by Chief Executive Rob Fyfe and his management team's willingness to front for the media at any hour or the day or night." And he encouraged "all participants to make a big effort to promote their environmental endeavors no matter how large or how small."