Etihad Airways has won three titles for its First Class at this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards in Hamburg, Germany, following a poll of almost 18 million global air travellers from more than 100 countries. Etihad won the awards for: World’s Best First Class; Best First Class Airline Seat; and Best First Class Onboard Catering. The public poll takes into account all aspects of the air travel experience as well as the quality of customer service delivered by each airline’s staff.                                                              Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are exceptionally proud to have won these three awards for our new and innovative First Class product and service which is now recognised as the world’s best by the ultimate judges – air travellers. In 2008 we introduced a new Business Class product and we won the Skytrax award for Best Business Class so it is hugely satisfying, 12 months later, to introduce our new First Class Suite and to win the awards for Best First Class, Best First Class Seat and Best first Class Onboard Service.”                                                                                                                                              Edward Plaisted, Chairman of Skytrax, said: “This was a fantastic Awards ceremony for Etihad Airways, walking away with the World’s Best First Class Award, the Best First Class Onboard Catering Award and Best First Class Airline Seat, achieving a clean sweep of this premium travel category. On a global basis, out of 200 airlines, Etihad Airways ranked 6th in the world, moving up from 7th in 2009. The World Airline Awards are known as ‘The Passenger’s Choice’, underlining the fact that Etihad Airways are clearly satisfying their hardest critics – the passengers.”