Hainan winning streak

Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines received the ‘World's Leading Economy Class’ award at the high-profile World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony at La Cigale Hotel Doha in Qatar on 30 November.

In doing so it beat twelve other airlines from around the globe including leading carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.  The award comes just a month after the airline received an award in the ‘Asia's Leading Airline Economy Class’ category.

Hainan is also celebrating after its innovative ‘In-flight Charitable Tickets Auction’ was awarded a Mercury Award by the International Travel Catering Association on 25 November.  The carrier’s charity auction was introduced in 2001 and is an in-flight service available on selected domestic flights of more than three hours' duration.  The minimum bid on a one-way ticket is set at 10 yuan (about US$1.60) during the in-flight auction and all proceeds are used to fund education, environmental protection, healthcare and other public welfare programmes. 

The winners are required to use the tickets within one year, and the tickets are non-transferable, but the selected flight can be changed once.  The in-flight auction is claimed to create “a relaxed cabin environment” and “addresses the passengers' need to feel noticed.”  www.hnair.com

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