Aer Lingus has been named Airline of the Year on the basis of an annual survey of business people. It also was voted best airline in three out of a total of six categories in the survey, which was carried out by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.

Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Garry Cullen said the awards were a recognition that the airline was addressing the needs of its customers. The airline received best overall airline award for the second time in three years. The awards were presented by the chambers' air transport users' council. Aer Lingus also won the Best Airline - London route, Best UK and Best Airline - transatlantic route.

Ryanair won the Best Value for Money category while Lufthansa won the Best Airline - European routes award. For Ryanair, it was the fourth successive year it had won the award in the best value category.

In a statement, Ryanair's commercial director, Mr Michael Cawley, said the company would carry more than six million passengers this year. He said none of the new fare routes it would open to Europe this year would be out of Ireland. This, he said, was due to the "ongoing monopoly of Aer Rianta at Dublin Airport which proposes to double airport charges and force up air fares to the detriment of tourism and jobs".