About 100 guests from airlines, government offices and businesses at Munich Airport got together recently to celebrate the Bavarian hub's selection as the "European champion" in the World Airport Awards 2011. Speaking to the gathering, Bavarian finance minister Georg Fahrenschon, the chairman of the supervisory board of FMG, the airport's operating company, praised this extraordinary achievement: "Despite the enormous growth in traffic and the major expansion work, the passengers have reaffirmed that our airport has retained its key strengths: It is perceived as a reliable, friendly and aesthetically pleasing airport, but above all as a pleasant airport." Airport CEO Dr.'Michael Kerkloh expressed his delight with the award and, looking ahead to the future, said that the airport community will continue to make every effort to "maintain the high quality standards in times of rapidly increasing traffic figures."