Last year, the World Travel Awards, considered the “Oscars” of the travel industry, chose Etihad Airways as the world’s best airline. Etihad also was picked by travel agents and industry professionals for world’s best cabin crew and best first class. Accolades go beyond the air. It also matters on the ground — like in the airports itself. Emirates first class lounge at Dubai International was ranked the world’s best.
“The U.S. invented the airline industry and I think we should be the best in the world, but obviously we are not,” said Thomas Horton, chairman of American Airlines. Horton, the former CEO of American, is now non-executive chairman of American Airlines Group. The company is the result of a merger between American Airlines and former rival U.S. Airways. Speaking at the Buttonwood Gathering last fall in New York, Horton said, “the mergers will help us compete with the likes of Emirates, I think. This is a hyper competitive industry. We’re competing in a world marketplace and we have to think of ourselves that way.”