On April 25, Cathay Pacific Airways presented special "Betsy Awards" to 13 of its service staff from Hong Kong and overseas for their extraordinary acts of customer service. The Betsy Award - named in honour of Cathay Pacific's first aircraft - is the highest accolade given by the company to recognise service excellence.

Each award winner went beyond the call of duty to provide the kind of customer service that exceeded passengers' expectations and helped bolster the airline's reputation for providing "Service Straight From The Heart". Guests at the awards ceremony at Cathay Pacific City heard inspiring stories that ranged from helping a bereaved family to saving a baby's life. The award winners were shortlisted from thousands of noteworthy customer service acts performed across the Cathay Pacific network last year.

Four of this year's winners are flight attendants, while the others are staff working at Hong Kong International Airport or in Cathay Pacific airport teams overseas. On top of a unique Betsy gold pin and certificate, each winner will enjoy the opportunity to experience something that few, if any, of their colleagues has ever experienced, including trips to the Boeing or Airbus aircraft plants or taking part in a Cathay Pacific inaugural flight.

The top reward, shadowing the airline's Chief Executive for a day, went to three staff working in the Ho Chi Minh City airport team. Airport Services Supervisor Ben Pham, Airport Services Officer Mike Phan and Airport Services Officer Red Tran all showed exceptional dedication and understanding in helping the family of a passenger who passed away when his flight landed in Vietnam.

Cathay Pacific Director Service Delivery Quince Chong said: "Congratulations to all our winners, who are deserving recipients of Betsy Awards and will serve as role models in inspiring other colleagues to offer service beyond the call of duty. These special examples of exemplary service are a reflection of the airline's commitment to offer 'Service Straight From The Heart' to our customers."

The Betsy Awards were launched in 2005 as Cathay Pacific's first corporate recognition programme. To date, 47 staff have received Betsys for exceptional acts of customer service.

Photograph 1: 13 Cathay Pacific frontline staff received the company's highest accolade for people and service excellence at the 2007 Betsy Awards Presentation Ceremony.

Photograph 2: Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Philip Chen presenting the top Betsy honour to the Airport team from Ho Chi Minh City.

Photograph 3: Passenger Mr. Andrew Leahy and HKIA Customer Services Officer Joyce Ho reunite at the Betsy Awards Presentation Ceremony.