Awards
Gulf Air wins ‘Onboard Catering Excellence’ award
Manama, Bahrain: Gulf Air has been named as the Best Airline for its ‘Onboard Catering Excellence’ in the Skytrax Awards.
By winning the award, Gulf Air has repeated its winning streak, not just once, but three times. Last year, Gulf Air won the Skytrax World Airline Catering Awards 2005 for ‘Best Onboard Catering in First Class and Business Class’ and the PAX International Readership Award for ‘Best New Product Launch in In-flight Service’ at the Middle East Catering Conference.
“It is indeed a great achievement for Gulf Air,” says Gulf Air President and Chief Executive James Hogan.
“The award comes at the right time when Gulf Air has launched its new business strategy, Smart Airline, Successful Business. We will spare no efforts to keep up the goodwill we have earned in the aviation industry.”
The award reiterates the fact that Gulf Air is passionate about maintaining its world class standards when it comes to catering- be it our unique Sky Chef or Sky Nanny products or the range of food we offer onboard that have set new standards in in-flight services in the aviation industry, says Gulf Air Head of Inflight Services Michael Kent.
“It is not an easy feat to repeat our success,” he said.
Skytrax Awards provides the most prestigious recognition of outstanding quality excellence for product and customer service delivery across today’s world airline industry.
“The introduction of onboard chefs by Gulf Air a couple of years ago set a new benchmark for onboard catering standards. Whilst this is concentrated on the premium end of the aircraft, the concept has resulted in a much more notable improvement to Gulf Air onboard catering standards across all cabins, and deserved merit for this accolade,” notes Skytrax.
These independent awards are the result of the most comprehensive analysis of product and service standards and have become a bench mark for aviation industry for their products and services.
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 50 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A platform for sustained commercial operation has been established over the past three years as part of a multi-phased turnaround programme. It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’smart airline, successful business’ vision.
International recognition has been achieved as a result of the turnaround programme leading to numerous awards for the airline’s innovative and high quality products and services:
These include:
Best Onboard Catering in First and Business Class (Skytrax World Airline Catering Awards 2005)
Best designed in-flight magazine (American Creativity Awards,2005)
Middle East Leading First Class Airline (World Travel Awards 2005)
World’s Leading Airport Lounge (World Travel Awards 2005)
Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline (MENA Travel Awards 2004
Most Improved Airline (Skytrax Awards 2004)
Middle East First Class Airline (Arabian Business Awards)
Best new product launch for in-flight services (PAX international Readership Awards)
Best First Class Onboard Food (Skytrax Food Category 2004)
Best Business Class Check-in (Skytrax Check-in Category 2004)
Middle East region’s best airport restaurant for its restaurant in Bahrain International Airport lounge (PAX International Readership Awards 2005)
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
