What is the World’s Best Airline?
What is the World’s Best Airline?
By Katherine LaGrave is Condé Nast Traveler‘s associate digital editor
The winners of the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards were announced on Tuesday. The people have spoken: After crunching data from 19.2 million surveys by customers hailing from more than 104 countries, airline and airport review and ranking website Skytrax today announced that Emirates is the world’s best airline. The Dubai-based carrier—the world’s largest international airline—has received the “World’s Best” title four times in the past 15 years, but has not come out on top since 2013. Emirates was also named as having the World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment for the 12th consecutive year.
Since their founding in 2001, the annual Skytrax awards have been based on the results of the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey in the industry: In total, 280 airlines were evaluated in 73 categories on everything from best economy class onboard catering to best cabin cleanliness. The Best Airline in Europe award went to Turkish Airlines, while Virgin America took home the title for Best Airline in North America. Among other notable winners? Thai Airways, which was recognized as the World’s Most Improved Airline (and for having the Best Airline Lounge Spa Facility); and Asiana Airlines, which won for World’s Best Economy Class, Best Economy Seat, and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering. A full list of the overall winners can be found below.
1. Emirates
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Cathay Pacific
5. ANA All Nippon Airways
6. Etihad Airways
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Qantas Airways
10. Lufthansa
Source: Conde Nast Traveler
