Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB) which has clocked 15.4 million passengers in financial year 2014-15 celebrated seven successful years of airport operation.

The airport which has established itself as South India’s busiest and country’s third largest airport organised its second edition of Pinnacle Awards – a platform created to recognize excellence and collaboration within the airport community.

Indigo has been awarded the domestic airline of the year while Emirates was awarded the international airline of the year. Indigo and Emirates have also won the flyer’s favourite airline in the domestic and international category.

The award ceremony was presided over by G V Sanjay Reddy, MD of BIAL and attended by the senior management of the airport, partners and concessionairs here in Bengaluru.

Speaking on the occasion Reddy said “Since the start of airport operations we have offered our passengers a seamless travel experience while maintaining the highest standard of quality and service excellence.”

“This year Pinnacle awards witnessed over 100 entries for the submission-based awards – a bouquet of stories of innvation, sustainable practices, star performers and crossing boundaries,” he added.

Pinnacle 2015 saw over 100 submissions and was judged by a panel of esteemed national and international industry professionals that included Patti Chau, Regional Director, ACI Asia Pacific, B S Nagesh, Customer Care Associate, Vice Chairman & Non-Executive Director, Shoppers Stop, Rishikesha Krishnan, Director IIM Indore and S Raghupathy, Executive Director, CII-Godrej.

Awards

Airline of the Year Domestic – IndiGo, Airline of the Year International – Emirates, Airline of the Year Cargo – Etihad, On Time Airline - Domestic – IndiGo, On Time Airline -International - Tiger Airways, Airline for Safety Excellence - Air France, Fastest Growing Airline – IndiGo, Flyer's Favourite Airline - Domestic – IndiGo, Flyer's Favourite Airline - International – Emirates.

Commercial: Out Performing Commercial Partner - Domestic - HMS Host Services, Out Performing Commercial Partner - International - Nuance Group, Out Performing Commercial Partner - Landside - Travel Retail Services, Best F&B Outlet International - Urban Food Market, Out Performing Partner - Car Rentals & Taxi Services - Mega Cabs, Out Performing Terminal Services - Plaza Premium Lounge Day Hotel, Excellence in Green Practices - Retail & F&B - Hatti Kappi, Best Retail Outlet - Duty Free Arrivals.

Cargo & Aviation services: Excellence in Safety - Aviation Services - IndianOil Skytanking, Excellence in Sustainable Practices - Aviation Services - Air India SATS and Out Performing Partner - Cargo & Aviation Services - Menzies Aviation Bobba Bangalore Pvt. Ltd.

This year a new award titled “Best Groomed Department” solely based on passenger survey was introduced and was awarded to CISF.

Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo said, “This recognition is a testimony of the trust and faith of the flyers who have supported us since the time we started flying in 2006. We feel absolutely delighted to be recognized for doing our job well.”

The airline has won the award for ‘Domestic Airline of the Year’ second time in a row and also being recognized as the ‘Flyer's Favourite Airline – Domestic’, ‘Fastest Growing Airline’ and ‘On Time Airline – Domestic’ makes this award even more special.

“Emirates has been proudly serving Bengaluru since 2006, said Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’, VP India and Nepal. Being awarded the ‘International Airline of the Year’ and the ‘Flyers Favourite International Airline’ in BIAL Pinnacle Awards is a strong testament to the unique product and service the airline offers our customers and stakeholders. We look forward to working with the airport and serving its customers for many more years to come”.