Top awards for BA and Continental

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- It might lose more bags than any other airline, but British Airways was the big winner at the 25th OAG Airline of the Year Awards held on April 17 in London.

The UK carrier picked up the Spirit of Flight trophy for "Airline of the Year" as well as scooping the "Best Transatlantic Airline," "Best Europe-Asia/Australasia Airline," and best airline based in Western Europe.

In a good night for CEO Willie Walsh, BA was short listed in three other categories. British Airways last won the OAG Airline of the Year Award back in 1988 and now ties with Singapore and Virgin Atlantic in having won the title on five separate occasions since the inception of the awards in 1982.

"British Airways performed solidly in just about every category it was eligible for," says Alan Glass, CEO of OAG.

"The people that matter, the world's frequent fliers, made it very clear in the way they voted that they like what BA is offering them. British Airways is a very worthy recipient of this year's OAG Airline of the Year Award."

Other multiple winners on the night were Continental Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Continental Airlines retained the "Best Business Class" title for a fifth successive year as well as being voted best airline in North America for a fourth consecutive year -- just pipping American Airlines who were commended.

Singapore Airlines retained "Best International First Class" and was voted the best airline in Asia.

Last year's Airline of the Year, Cathay Pacific, retained its crown as "Best Transpacific Airline." Regional winners on the night for best airline included Singapore Airlines (Asia), Qantas (Australasia / Pacific), Continental Airlines (North America), Aeromexico (Central/South America and the Caribbean), Emirates (Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent), South African Airways (Africa), British Airways (Western Europe), and CSA Czech Airlines (Central/Eastern Europe).

All the regional winners were eligible for "Airline of the Year."

Seoul Incheon International fought off extremely stiff competition to win the " Best Airport " crown. It just edged out last year's winner Singapore Changi that was commended, and also beat off competition from Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, New York JFK and San Francisco International.

Korea was a double winner with Korean Air, short listed for the first time this year, winning "Best Economy Class."

Despite it's near meltdown in February because of bad weather JetBlue won "Best Low Cost/No Frills Airline" for the second time, beating AirAsia, bmibaby, easyJet, Southwest Airlines and Virgin Blue.

The low cost sector picked up another award with EasyJet founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing the impact that easyJet and the easyGroup had made on the European aviation and travel scene.

Alan Glass praised Stelios for his remarkable entrepreneurial achievements in a comparatively short lifetime.

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