Toronto, Dec 3 (IANS) Air Canada has been voted the best airline in North America in an international survey of business travellers by Global Traveler Magazine.The award would not have come at a better time for the national carrier which was almost on the verge of seeking bankruptcy protection a few months ago.
The Global Traveler survey is based on the responses of more than 25,000 readers of Global Traveler Magazine. These readers are frequent travelers who average 32 round-trip flights a year, with 96 per cent of them travelling in first or business class regularly.

“We are excited and proud to receive this important recognition from customers who travel most frequently and are in a position to best compare Air Canada’s products and services with those of its peers,” said Air Canada executive vice president Ben Smith in a statement Wednesday.

He said, “Clearly customers appreciate our on-board amenities, including our new and refurbished cabin interiors, and our consolidated hub at Toronto, which makes it easy for travellers to connect seamlessly between domestic, transborder and international flights to destinations throughout our global network.

“This award is testament to the hard work of Air Canada’s employees and their dedication to offering our customers a superior product.”

The Canadian national carrier has just beefed up its fleet with new Boeing 777 and Embraer aircraft.

It has also completed a major refurbishment of its existing fleets to offer all customers brand-new seats and personal entertainment systems at each seat on North American and international routes. The airline has also started internet service on select flights in North America.

The Montreal-based airline flies to more than 170 destinations around the world. It is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 33 million customers annually.