The Skytrax World Airline Awards are the airlines’ equivalent of the Oscars and they were announced this week in a ceremony at The Langham, London.
Winners were chosen after a survey of more than 20 million customers from across the globe who were asked to judge airline standards across 49 key performance indicators.
This year, Singapore Airlines won the World’s Best Airline Award for the fourth time, just pipping out last year’s winner, Qatar Airways.
Along with the top prize of the night, Singapore Airlines also took home the award for best first class, best airline in Asia and best first-class seat.
Qatar Airways was the other big winner on the night. Having relinquished its best-in-the-world status, the airline still bagged a fair share of other awards, including best business class, best airline in the Middle East, best business class seat, plus an award for the best first-class lounge.
Qantas was named best airline in Australia and Pacific and given top honours for best first class, best business class, best economy class and best staff, and fell just shy of the top 10 as 11th best carrier.
And Qantas’s budget carrier, Jetstar, got the gong for best low-cost airline in Australia and Pacific.
Air New Zealand came out on top for the best premium economy seats in the world.
Full list of winners:
The top 10 world’s best airlines for 2018
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Emirates
5. EVA Air
6. Cathay Pacific Airways
7. Lufthansa
8. Hainan Airlines
9. Garuda Indonesia
10. Thai Airways
Best airlines — by global region
Northern Europe – Finnair
Western Europe – Lufthansa
Eastern Europe – Aeroflot Russian Airlines
Africa – Ethiopian Airlines
Australia / Pacific – Qantas Airlines
Central Asia / India – Air Astana
China – Hainan Airlines
Central America / Caribbean – Copa Airlines
South America – Avianca
North America – Air Canada
Asia – Singapore Airlines
Middle East – Qatar Airways
Europe – Lufthansa
Best low-cost airlines
Africa – Mango
Australia and Pacific – Jetstar Airways
Asia – AirAsia
Central Asia / India – Indigo
China – West Air
South America – Sky Airline
North America – WestJet
Middle East – Flynas
Europe – Norwegian
Best airline catering
Economy – Thai Airways
Premium economy – Aeroflot Russian Airlines
Business – Austrian Airlines
First class – Air France
Best airline seats
Economy – Japan Airlines
Premium economy – Air New Zealand
Business – Qatar Airways
First class – Singapore Airlines
Best regional airlines
Africa – Royal Air Maroc
Asia – Bangkok Airways
South America – Azul Brazilian Airlines
Central Asia / India – Azerbaijan Airlines
Europe – Aegean Airlines
Best airline lounges
First class – Qatar Airways
Airline alliance lounge – Star Alliance Los Angeles
Independent airport lounge – Plaza Premium Heathrow Terminal Two
First class lounge dining – Air France
Airline lounge spa facility – Thai Awards
Best airline staff service (by global region)
Africa – South African Airways
Australia / Pacific – Qantas Airways
Central Asia / India – Vistara
China – Hainan Airlines
Central America / Caribbean – Copa Airlines
South America – Azul Brazilian Airlines
Asia – ANA All Nippon Airways
Middle East – Emirates
Europe – Austrian Airlines
Read more at www.worldairlineawards.com
Which is the best airline on these lists with which you’ve flown?
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