China's Hainan Airlines wins Skytrax five-star certification

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Airlines was re-awarded SKYTRAX five-star certification on Wednesday, the highest recognition of the global business aviation industry for an airline's operational performance.

The award is expected to help Hainan Airlines, China's fourth-largest carrier, to expand global business and encourage more Chinese airlines to improve their services and operation to meet the international standard, said Wang Yingming, chairman of Hainan Airlines.

Working for over 215 airlines and 75 airports around the world, Skytrax, based in London, is one of the global leaders in airline and airport service benchmarking.

An airline needs to pass 750 assessments for both onboard and airport services before it wins a five-star ranking, said Edward Plaisted Skytrax Chairman.

Hainan Airlines won the five-star award for the first time last year. It's the world's seventh airline, and the first Chinese mainland carrier, given the recognition.

"Hainan Airlines has kept improving its onboard and ground services to make it winner again of the award," said Edward Plaisted.

Hainan Airlines is a fast-growing Chinese airline that began operations in the southern province of Hainan in 1993.

It is now the country's four-largest carrier after Air China, China Southern and China Eastern, operating on nearly 500 routes to more than 90 destinations around the globe.