SilkAir has been voted Asia-Pacific's "Best Regional Airline" by the readers of TTG for the ninth time since this award category was first introduced in 1995. The award was presented at the TTG Travel Awards 2008 event held in Bangkok.

The "Best Regional Airline" award honours the carrier offering the best in-flight service, network and schedules within the Asia-Pacific region. Readers of TTG voted for SilkAir in this category.

The annual TTG Travel Awards serve as a benchmark for high standards across the industry, celebrating the travel industry's best by offering 72 awards across four categories: airlines, hotels, spas and travel agents.

"The TTG Travel Award is one of the travel industry's most distinguished forms of recognition. It is a tremendous honour to be voted 'Best Regional Airline' by TTG readers," said Mr Chin Yau Seng, Chief Executive of SilkAir. "This coveted award goes a long way in deepening our commitment to meet - and exceed - our customers' expectations of SilkAir as a regional carrier known for its high service standards."

It is not the first time this year that SilkAir has received international recognition. In August, the airline ranked amongst the world's top five in Travel + Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards 2008. SilkAir was the only regional carrier to make it to Travel + Leisure's list of the top ten international airlines.

To further enhance customers' in-flight experience, SilkAir recently unveiled its latest Airbus A320 aircraft which sports an elegant new cabin interior with a "warm" colour scheme, as well as ergonomic seats fitted with flexible headrests. Business class patrons have the extra privilege of luxuriating in stylish leather-upholstered seats. The airline's latest fleet addition also offers more spacious overhead compartments for smooth and easy storage of hand luggage. This new cabin interior will be progressively retrofitted aboard the airline's existing fleet.

As the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), SilkAir extends the SIA Group's footprint in Asia by offering connections from Singapore to various points in the region. The airline's route network covers 29 destinations across 12 countries. SilkAir operates a fleet of 15 Airbus A320 family aircraft; with 11 more of the same type on firm order and options for a further nine.

Photograph: A SilkAir-operated Airbus A319 jet. Photo contributed by CARNOC.com message board member - taecoxu.