Travel agents from across the UK were given the opportunity to enter the competition between 29th April and 31st October 2015 once they had secured a booking, for travel before the end of the year, on the new daily American Airlines service from Birmingham to New York City’s JFK airport. Each economy ticket sold gave one entry and each business ticket three entries.

American Airlines commenced the new daily services on the 8th May 2015 bringing the Oneworld Alliance to Birmingham and opening up new opportunities to fly to North America and onwards to the Caribbean, South America, Canada and Bermuda.

The fantastic Fiat 500 car, from Guest Motors Limited in Willenhall, Walsall was presented to Helen on the apron at Birmingham Airport in front of the American Airlines 757 aircraft.

Helen, from Bloxwich, said: “I’ve worked in the travel industry for fifteen years and I’ve never won anything like this! My husband is as happy as me as I’ve always borrowed his car to get about. This is a dream come true – thank you very much to all the companies involved in making this possible!”

William Pearson, Aviation Development Director at Birmingham Airport, said: “I am delighted that the competition had such a national reach, with entries from both leisure and corporate travel agents stretching from Scotland to the southern counties. It was absolutely fantastic to see Helen’s face when we handed her the keys to her brand new car.”

David Thomas, Director of Sales for American Airlines in UK and Ireland, said: “Birmingham Airport is an important part of our regional UK network and the strategy for our Atlantic joint business with British Airways. Demand for more long haul service to key US business and leisure destinations is increasing. Launching Birmingham to New York (JFK) in May 2015 was our response to that demand. The opportunity for passengers to earn and redeem loyalty miles through the Oneworld Alliance has attracted more frequent flyers to our services.

“We can only sustain routes if they are popular with consumers and our planes are full. This car contest has been focused on increasing the awareness of this Birmingham to New York route, as well as our extensive onward connections beyond JFK, to UK based travel agents.”