The European Regions Association has presented its awards for 2024. The presentations, held in Seville, Spain, were a part of the association’s annual General Assembly.
Binter Canarias earned both the title of ERA Airline of the Year and the ERA Regional Connectivity Airline Award. Judges praised the airline’s ‘comprehensive approach to sustainability’, both in terms of operational impacts, but also through its commitment to enhancing the environmental well-being of its territories.
Over the past year, the carrier has launched five new routes, boosting regional connectivity and passenger numbers, directly supporting local economies. It also introduced its Aeronautical Training Centre in 2023, which serves as an incubator for future aviation professionals, offering specialist training and improving employability within the sector.
Alfredo Morales, CEO, Binter said: “Receiving ERA’s highest award this year means a lot for Binter, as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of our airline. Safety, quality service and constant innovation stand as our priority values and delivering the best travel experience to our customer is our main goal, so receiving this award means that we are doing it well.”
David Manzanas, Managing Director, Binter said: “This award means a lot to us and shows our hard work in connecting people and places. We are proud to be the airline that connects people and communities in the Canary Islands.”
Other awards at the event included the Innovation Award, which was won by SKY Express for its use of tech to remove paper from the cockpit, and for its deployment of machine learning algorithms to optimise route planning, flight scheduling, and fuel efficiency, driving overall performance improvements. The judges also praised the airline’s commitment to cybersecurity and strengthened safety protocols.
Loganair won the sustainable Airline Award for it’s work with Cranfield University to develop a practical hydrogen fuel cell to power aircraft.