oneworld has been named the best airline alliance for in-flight wines in Business Traveller magazine’s 2006 Cellars in the Sky Awards.
Presented at the UK Business Travel Show last week, the awards are run in association with Wine & Spirit magazine and the International Wine Challenge, with the blind tastings taking place over two days by four leading wine experts.
oneworld’s member airlines also received more awards and nominations than members of both other global airline alliances combined, with oneworld carriers collecting eight top trophies, and 36 nominations.
Among the alliance’s member airlines British Airways took three top honours, for best consistency of wines across First and Business Class, best First Class fortified wine and best First Class „wild card“ wine (not covered by any specific award category). Qantas received two trophies – for most original First Class wine list, best Business Class sparkling wine. American Airlines was judged as offering the overall best First Class wine cellar and Finnair won the title as best Business Class „wild card“ wine. Japan Airlines, which will join oneworld on 1 April, received the trophy for best First Class red wine.
Other oneworld member airlines to receive nominations included Cathay Pacific, Iberia and LAN Airlines.
The Cellars in the Sky awards are presented annual to „celebrate the best wines served by airlines in Business and First Class“. A record 35 airlines competed for the 2006 trophies, which were presented by renowned wine expert and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge Charles Metcalfe.
