The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) said in a press release on Sunday that aviation industry executives from around the world applauded Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for winning the "Best Airport Worldwide" title in the 2004 AETRA survey at the awards presentation ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week.

AA Chief Executive Officer David J Pang received the top prize from Malaysia's Minister of Transport Chan Kong Choy. "The award bestowed on HKIA by our valued customers is attributed to the 55, 000 staff at the airport who work to offer an enjoyable airport experience with passion," Pang said.

He added: "I am proud of being a member of this dedicated workforce and will continue to strive for the best performance with them."

AETRA is a year-round survey conducted at 48 participating airports, which measures passengers' experiences on the day of travel.

HKIA ranked first in overall passenger satisfaction among both business and leisure travelers in the 2004 AETRA survey.

It is a world-leading airport benchmarking program jointly conducted by the worldwide airline and airport organizations -- the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI).

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2005)