Singapore Airlines loses its world’s best crown to Qatar

Singapore Airlines loses its crown, and Qantas makes a return trip to the top 10.

Singapore Airlines loses its world’s best crown to Qatar
Leon Della Bosca
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12th Jul 2019
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Singapore Airlines enjoyed a short stint as the world’s best airline but has lost the crown to consistent winner Qatar Airways.

The prestigious 2019 Skytrax Awards – known as the Oscars of the aviation world – also saw Qatar walk away with World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East.

It’s the fifth time Qatar has won the best airline award, after losing the top spot in 2018 to Singapore.

Singapore Airlines dropped to second place, with Japanese airline ANA All Nippon Airways receiving the bronze medal.

Now in its 19th year, the Skytrax ratings are based on the world’s largest passenger satisfaction survey of passengers from over 100 countries voting on 300 airlines from around the globe. Voting took place from September 2018 to May 2019.

Qantas made a return trip to the top 10 list for the first time in three years, rising from 11th spot in 2018 and 15th in 2017.

Virgin Australia dropped seven places coming in at 25th spot.

Australia’s most respected travel business, according to the Reputation Institute’s Australian Corporate Reputation Index, Air New Zealand, came in at 16th. Jetstar came in at 53rd overall, dropping from 46th position in 2018, but picked up third in the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airlines and sixth in the World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines for 2019.

The Best Airline Staff in Australia Pacific award went to Fiji Airways.

The World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2019

1. Qatar Airways

2. Singapore Airlines

3. ANA All Nippon Airways

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Emirates

6. EVA Air

7. Hainan Airlines

8. Qantas Airways

9. Lufthansa

10. Thai Airways

Have you flown with any of the top 10 airlines listed here? How was your experience?

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    COMMENTS

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    casey
    13th Jul 2019
    8:59am
    Where is Royal Brunei? I have flown with most of those airlines, but in the last few years have used Royal Brunei. Can't fault them, good service, nice new planes. And most important they kill the others for price. The only downside, (which doesn't bother me) is they do not have or serve alcohol on their flights.
    Anonymous
    13th Jul 2019
    9:14am
    They are starting flights from Brisbane shortly after an absence of 8 years. Initially 4 times a week and then hopefully every day later on. The booze on the plane does not bother me either but at the hotel I would have liked a shot or 2. Darussalam is not my favorite stop over. Prefer Singapore.
    OnlyDaughter
    15th Jul 2019
    8:03am
    You have got to be kidding....Royal Brunei are below par. I have done 8 long haul trips to the UK in the past 9 years and they are by far the worst.
    Miranda
    13th Jul 2019
    9:13am
    As someone who can only afford to fly cattle class, Qatar Airways have consistently offered the lowest fares, including free seat selection, when I have travelled to Europe on two occasions, and I have no complaints. Singapore Airlines have always had an excellent reputation but unfortunately are more expensive. Similarly Emirates also have a good reputation but are more expensive than Qatar. I would never book Qantas again after my last experience with them on a flight to Bangkok. I think they are popular with people who travel business class with their jobs so that they can accumulate frequent flyer points. I have subsequently flown to Bangkok with Thai Airways - no complaints there and I would happily fly with them again.
    casey
    13th Jul 2019
    9:19am
    Miranda, you are spot on with Qantas. Overpriced and overated. My son inlaw is a flight engineer with Qantas, and some of the stories he has told me are scarey. Would never ever fly with them.
    Anonymous
    13th Jul 2019
    9:19am
    Agree with your comment. Living near Gold Coast Airport like to fly Scoot to Singapore, staying overnight at Airport Hotel, no immigration, and then straight on to Zurich (where my family live) with either Singapore or Swiss Airlines. They code share on A380 jumbos.
    Karl Marx
    13th Jul 2019
    11:46am
    Have flown with a few of those airlines including Royal Brunei who I found very good & helpful when need during a medical issue with then partner.
    More recently have flown with Thai air & again found them very good & reasonably priced with mostly no stopovers to my destinations. Air of smiles from the land of smiles.
    Qantas I haven't flown with for a long time as they are overrated, overpriced & to many stopovers, some up to 20+ hours.
    Grammy
    14th Jul 2019
    6:52am
    Cannot understand how QANTAS is considered in the top ten!! We were loyal QANTAS travellers for over thirty years but resent crew looking down their noses at us even when business class travellers. At least Singapore Airlines and EVA are not judgemental. Learn to respect people!
    Richard
    14th Jul 2019
    8:48am
    I was a loyal customer of Qantas but witnessed over the years the decline in their in flight service and switched to Singapore Airlines which has exceptional in flight service. My daughter recently returned from Europe on Qatar Airways and could not fault the service.
    Richard
    patti
    14th Jul 2019
    9:19am
    I had always believed Singapore Airlines to be the best, but after a trip to Vietnam a couple of years ago, I no longer think so. Food was ho-hum, (they had prior notice that I was vegan), the bathrooms were dirty, seats worn and dirty, and it seemed to be a major undertaking to provide drinking water. The small airlines in Vietnam and Cambodia were much better. Sad really.
    Knight Templar
    14th Jul 2019
    10:36am
    Stopped flying with QANTAS years ago. The cabin staff always gave the impression that providing an extra level of service was servile and offensive to their dignity. Egalitarianism is a commendable belief, but it should not result in a haughty contempt for those flying cattle class.
    casey
    14th Jul 2019
    10:55am
    Does nobody like Qant-arse. HAHA
    Tanker
    14th Jul 2019
    10:57am
    Which airline was best for us ordinary mortals who fly cattle class?
    Nanna75
    15th Jul 2019
    11:57am
    I flew Etihad to Birmingham 2 years ago, also but after Abu Dhabi were KLM and provided a wheelchair too. They really looked after me. Cattle class flight but 21st class service.
    Tanker
    14th Jul 2019
    10:57am
    Which airline was best for us ordinary mortals who fly cattle class?
    Troubadour
    14th Jul 2019
    11:48am
    Have ALWAYS had good service on Singapore Airlines. Have not flown QATAR but friends have and voted it the best. Glad to hear QANTAS has an improved placing.
    Domestically I have always had good service with VIRGIN.
    Tood
    14th Jul 2019
    12:43pm
    Does that mean the prices are going down a bit, hope so, most expensive airline but the best so far
    Jim
    14th Jul 2019
    6:56pm
    Never had a problem with Qantas except for seat selection, the same for BA used to fly Singapore when their prices were ok, used KLM again no problem, worst by far was Virgin Atlantic, Delta were close to the worst, the best by far for all round great service was Air New Zealand, I have just booked my first flight with Qatar flying to Venice and back from Athens so hope their 1st place ranking is correct, free seat selection is a bonus and they seem to have a good selection food that you can pre order and a generous 30 Klg of luggage allowance.
    DC
    14th Jul 2019
    7:31pm
    Have recently flown Emirates to Amsterdam and return from Dublin. It was cattle class and we will never fly Emirates again. Disinterested staff, screens not working, very average food dreadfully uncomfortable seats...screaming kids! Guess we can't blame the airline for that?
    Our theory is that Emirates have basically become too big and lost the plot. Doubt that they will hold their current rating next survey. Will try Royal Brunai next time. The comments re Qantas staff being surly and 'above' good service are spot-on. Been a Club member since 1988 and they couldn't give a damn about my loyalty. Not renewing after all these loyal years. Disgruntled David
    Dabbydoos
    14th Jul 2019
    9:01pm
    As an older single, lady, flier have found QATAR outstanding, no problems, mwas able to use a special on a part of the flight from UK to Australia to business class, out of this world, how the other half live


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