Winners of the prizes given annually by the International Travel Insurance Journal, in eight distinct categories, were revealed during a gala ceremony at the International Travel Insurance Congress in Barcelona. FAI rent-a-jet AG was awarded the prize in the 'Air ambulance provider of the year' category in recognition of its quality focus and its forward-looking overall business concept.

The construction of the new FAI hangar, which brings together a workforce composed of a variety of specialist staff under a single ecologically unique roof, was especially recognised. Among the other items highlighted by a jury of international experts in the field of air ambulance operation were the successful launch of the Middle East air ambulance operations base, the in-house development of medical innovations such as the mobile patient transport system with a view to improving patient safety, as well as a worldwide service capability, including regular air ambulance flights from crisis areas.

"This prize goes to all the workers in our company, to the medical teams, the pilots, the technicians, the dispatchers, and all the others who have worked hard for a long time in order for us to reach our current performance standards," says Volker Lemke, a member of FAI's board of directors, in his acceptance speech after receiving the prize from the newly elected co-chair of the European Aeromedical Institute, Dr Bettina Vadera.

FAI's video trailer on the theme of air ambulance services was shown during the celebrations.

FAI rent-a-jet has offered its services to the insurance industry, to governmental organisations, to hospitals, to major corporations and to private clients for more than 25 years. With its growing fleet of 20 aircraft, six of which are permanently configured as air ambulances, and its own certified maintenance depart-ment FAI has become one of the largest business aviation companies in Germany. Aside from its activities in the air ambulance sector the company also offers vip charter, air transport logistics for the United Nations, and aircraft management.