Air Transat Named World's Best Leisure Airline

The World Airline Awards presents the prestigious award for World's Best Leisure Airline to Air Transat

MONTREAL, July 13, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Transat was named World's Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax annual World Airline Awards, held on July 12, 2012 at the Farnborough International Airshow, near London.

"We are very proud to receive this important distinction. The World Airline Awards are the most prestigious an airline can receive, and the fact that it recognizes Air Transat as the world's leading airline in our category makes it that much more important," commented Allen B. Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Air Transat and President of Transat Canada.

Distinctions were based on a survey measuring the satisfaction of more than 18 million customers. Conducted over a 10-month period, this survey included over 200 airlines that were rated on 38 different aspects of the passenger experience. The study analyzed customer satisfaction for the Airline Passenger Experience, from check-in to boarding, onboard seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food and beverages, onboard entertainment, and service of staff.

"Furthermore, we receive this award as we begin to refurbish our cabins, which will guarantee a considerably improved in-flight experience. Satisfied passengers haven't seen anything yet," added Allen B. Graham.

This coveted award honours the exceptional performance of Air Transat employees throughout the Company's 25 years of existence. "This award crowns the contribution of all our hard-working teams, who, over the years, have made security, on-time performance and quality their priority," concluded Allen B. Graham.

In the past five years, Air Transat has gained other recognitions as a result of its numerous environmental initiatives. In 2011, the Company ranked first worldwide in the Atmosfair Airline Index environmental performance indicator, in the long-haul category. Air Transat also obtained the Platinum LEED-EB (existing building) certification for its headquarters, located within the Montreal-Trudeau airport site.

Air Transat was recognized as the Best Charter Airline for the fifth consecutive year at the Agents' Choice Awards, which represents the largest sampling of travel agents in Canada. The airline also received the Family Friendly Airline Award, which acknowledges carriers that provide additional services and extra comfort to children and their parents.

About Air Transat
Air Transat is Canada's leading holiday travel airline. Every year, it carries some 3 million passengers to nearly 60 destinations in 25 countries aboard its fleet of Airbus wide-body jets. The company employs approximately 2,000 people. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries.

Image with caption: "John Hetherington, Director Airports - Europe, Air Transat (CNW Group/TRANSAT A.T. INC.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120713_C7792_PHOTO_EN_16218.jpg

Valérie Martin
Manager, National Marketing
Transat Tours Canada
514-987-1022, extension 4147