Press Release

Issued by .

December 8, 2008

PremiAir, the leading executive helicopter charter operator, has been voted Best Executive Aviation Provider at Buying Business Travel's Diamond Awards 2009, for the fourth year running. 

PremiAir scooped the well-respected accolade in the business aviation sector amid tough competition, voted for by the industry's most important customers - those responsible for securing the best service and value from suppliers.  Shortlisted candidates were put forward for a final online voting by the magazine's 16,000-strong readership.   Others on the shortlist in PremiAir's category were Air Charter Service, Air Partner, Chapman Freeborn, Hunt & Palmer and London Executive Aviation.

The award was collected by PremiAir's Charter and Management team at the magazine's glittering awards ceremony and Christmas ball, held at London's Hurlingham Club on the evening of Thursday 4 December.   Leading travel buyers Karen Brand (NATS), Maria McSorley (BlackRock), Sarah Plummer (Merck Sharp & Dohme) and Chris Reynolds (3Sixty) made up the 2009 Nominations Panel, together with some of the UK's top travel journalists including Catherine Chetwynd, Colin Ellson, Bob Papworth, David Richardson and Mike Toynbee (Editor of Buying Business Travel).

"We are delighted to once again receive the endorsement of Buying Business Travel's VIP buyers and its readers.  This has been a hugely challenging year for everyone in the industry and this award is especially appreciated as the votes are cast by those who know the industry.  I dedicate this award to the people of PremiAir – the charter team, operations, our engineers - who put in all that effort to ensure our clients experience is both special and personal," said PremiAir Group Managing Director David McRobert. 

Next year will be a landmark one for PremiAir, owned by the von Essen luxury hotels group, as the new London Heliport is unveiled at Battersea.  London's only heliport is well advanced in its major redevelopment, on schedule for inauguration in summer 2009.  Complementing the heliport, von Essen's new luxury five-star, 70-bedroom hotel is taking shape – a world-class heliport and hotel for London. 

Buying Business Travel was founded in 2003 and is published by Panacea Publishing, which also owns ABTN and Business Traveller.  The magazine provides an authoritative voice on travel issues and trends, regularly highlighting the latest products and services for corporate travel buyers and travel arrangers.  Buying Business Travel was named Business Travel Publication of the Year at the 2008 Business Travel Journalism Awards.