Abu Dhabi, UAE, 25 February 2009: Abu Dhabi In-Flight Catering, part of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), has received the IATA In-flight Catering Quality Assurance (ICQA) Gold Standard Award for 2008, in recognition of its sustained focus on quality and safety. This is the highest accolade presented by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is awarded to only one facility in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region each year.

Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Abu Dhabi In-Flight Catering, which was established in 1982, has been managed by LSG Sky Chefs since January 2008. It currently produces more than 20,000 meals per day.

The selection of award winners was based on a series of nine detailed audits over a period of three years. To be nominated, a caterer must consistently score above 90% for food processing safety and above 80% for food processing quality. The audits, conducted unannounced and lasting for several days, are regarded throughout the world as one of the toughest measures of performance for in-flight caterers.

HE Khalifa Al Mazrouei, ADAC Chairman, said:

"ADAC is committed to operating and maintaining facilities up to world-class standards, and this result recognises the achievement of that objective for In-Flight Catering. Quality, however, is about constant effort, and we will continue to improve even further the process of providing the best possible services to all our airline customers and their passengers."

Paul Haines, General Manager of In-Flight Catering at ADAC, added:

"This Gold Standard Award is a testament to the quality standards that Abu Dhabi In-flight Catering has achieved and sustained over a number of years, and we are proud to be recognised as the region’s leader for quality assured in-flight catering."

In-Flight Catering at Abu Dhabi International Airport has been expanding rapidly in recent years, primarily to serve the requirements of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE. In 2006 the facility doubled its capacity, allowing production to increase from 15,000 to 30,000 meals per day. Once planned developments at the airport are complete, this figure is expected to reach 50,000 meals per day.

-ENDS-

About Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC):
Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ADAC, is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Emiri Decree number 5, of March 4th, 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure. ADAC has officially taken over the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain international Airports, as of 28/09/2006. Under its mandate is the re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport, which includes the new midfield terminal – a facility that will offer a 20 million passenger per year operational capacity when its first phase opens in late 2011.

Press Office, ADAC – Abu Dhabi Airports Company 
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