Palmair European which operates just one plane, and has a member of staff to greet every passenger after drawing up seating arrangements from her kitchen table, has been named the third best in the world.

The British airline beat multi-national companies such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways in the poll organised by magazine, Which?, with some 70,000 passengers voting. Flying a 34-year-old Boeing 737 no more than twice a day, the voters picked the airline after being asked to rate overall experience and value for money from over 70 worldwide airlines.

Voters were also asked to rate cleanliness of planes, leg-room, catering quality and cabin crew performance.Palmair has only 70,000 passenger each year was voted a joint third position with Air New Zealand. The top gong was handed to Singapore Airlines, with Jet Airways voted second best. "We are just little Palmair with a little Boeing 737 yet we beat of the likes of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways," David Skillicorn, Managing Director of Palmair said.

Singapore Airlines has 100 planes including the A380 which is the largest plane in service, on-board massages and a choice of dvds.

"All we can offer is the choice of tea or coffee - that is why I feel so flattered. Coming joint third in this poll is such an amazing achievement." The airline was founded in 1957 after being leased to take passengers to Majorca. It was later named Palmair European in 1991 after the company bought its only Boeing 737, and now flies to 14 European destinations including Spain, Corfu, Portugal and Croatia. Founded by late Chairman Peter Bath, it was reported that until 2006 he was at the departure lounge to greet passengers before standing at the tarmac in Dorset, where the airline is based, to wave off every single flight. Long standing airport representative Teresia Rosesllo took over the duties after Mr Bath passed away.

"When Mr Bath founded Palmair, his belief was that if people were good enough to pay money to fly with him then the least he could do was greet each passenger," Mr Skillicorn said. "When he died, we continued that tradition and now Teresia does the job and waves off every plane from the Tarmac. "Teresia lives 10 minutes away from the airport and is the face of check-in and allocates the seats. She maps out the seating plan the night before on her kitchen table using special notes she has made for each passenger."

"Those who want more leg room get it and families who want to sit together can. Other airlines charge for a service like this but not us. We have taken out a row of seating to give the 130 passengers more leg room and put fresh flowers on-board for every flight. Mr Bath never allowed his flights to leave before 9am as he believed night flights were anti-social."

"I have made a slight change and our earliest is now 8.20am but I would never dream of going any earlier than that."
"We have a team of caterers that prepare the meals at the airport and we are always looking to change what we serve according to what the customer wants."

This article appeared on www.etravelblackboardasia.com

June 24, 2008

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