Jet Airways' chairman, Naresh Goyal, has been presented with the prestigious 'Man of the Year' award by the Belgian Aviation Press Club (APC). The thirty year old Aviation Press Club is an influential club of Belgian aviation journalists.

Goyal received the award from Ms Cathy Buyck, chairperson of the APC.

Commenting on the honour, Goyal said, "I am honoured to receive this award in the first year of our activities on Brussels Airport. However, credit for my winning this award must also go to my team, as well as Brussels Airlines and Brussels Airport for whose support I am very grateful."

Ms Buyck added, "We wish to congratulate Mr. Goyal on the successful start that he had at Brussels Airport with Jet Airways. By constructing an international hub at our national airport he has helped to put it once again on the map internationally."

One of the fastest growing airlines in the world, Jet Airways was the first Indian airline to establish a European hub at Brussels, as well as the first to operate direct flights between India and Brussels.

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 81 aircraft, which includes 10 Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, 8 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, 54 classic and next generation Boeing 737-400/700/800/900 aircraft and nine modern ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft.

With an average fleet age of 4.20 years, the airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleet in the world.

Jet Airways operates over 380 flights daily to 59 destinations in India and abroad.

Last summer Jet Airways developed its first international hub at Brussels Airport and inaugurated the first direct routes between Brussels and Mumbai. Out of Brussels, India's largest airline company flies daily to Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai in India, New York's Newark and John F Kennedy as well as Toronto in Canada.

In 2007, passenger numbers grew by 23% for long haul flights from Brussels Airport, which amounts to an extra 300,000 passengers. Of this number, at least half can be attributed to Jet Airways.