British Airways, which calls itself the "world's favourite airline", now has ammunition to back up that claim.

BA has emerged as the big winner of the prestigious Business Traveller Awards for 2002, the airline industry"s equivalent of the Oscars. The awards are voted on by frequent business travellers.

BA won a total of seven categories in the annual poll conducted by Business Traveller magazine. The magazine's survey is conducted independently and is the only such survey carried out by a UK-based publication that complies with the rules for such competitions laid down by the Market Research Society.

Commenting on the awards, BA's district manager for Bermuda, Philip Troake, said: "In what has been a tough year for the industry, it is particularly heartening for us that our staff have been able to continue to deliver excellent service, which has been recognised in this way."

Mr. Troake continued: "Winning seven awards means a great deal to us, particularly as they have been voted by frequent business travellers."

BA's chief executive, Rod Eddington, attended the awards ceremony, which took place at the London Hilton hotel, where he collected the blue-ribbon award for Best Airline, Best First Class and Best Business Class. The other awards BA won were for best cabin crew; best short haul flights; best frequent flyer programme; and most innovative airline.

BA also shared an eighth award when the oneworld alliance, of which BA is a member, was awarded the prize for the world's best airline alliance.