Just back from (another) quick trip across the Atlantic ocean and down to Panama. I was fortunate enough to try the new (for summer 2009) Air Europa service from Gatwick to Cararcas via Madrid and was mightily impressed.

Everything was of a very high standard with particularly worthy of mention the excellent on-board announcements, meet and greet for interlining passengers at Madrid and the beautiful state of the art aircraft (airbus A330 on the long haul sectors and the new Embraer 195 on the LGW).

Having recently flown long-haul sectors on both BA and Virgin I can honestly say that the Air Europa experience was by far the best of the three. Plus I also need a special mention for the COPA flights from Caracas to Panama which were ultra professional and, despite nearly full loads both ways, very enjoyable in a business like way. (Regular travellers on the route must love this approach to flying, because it has happened so slowly over time, I had not realised how much the standard of European economy travel has deterioriated until experiencing how it should be served ...)