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After a decade, a very distinguished Asian carrier has wrested the Airline of the Year Award from the grasp of Middle Eastern airlines.

The winner of the 2018 Skytrax World Airline award for Best Airline is Singapore Airlines, back on top for the first time since 2008, knocking last year’s winner, Qatar Airways, into second place. Cathay Pacific came sixth and Thai International came 10th.

Qantas dominated the awards for the Australia-Pacific region, and although it didn’t quite make the top 10 world rankings (it came 11th, beaten by Thai International) it gained regional awards for Best Airline, Best First Class, Best Business Class, Best Economy Class and Best Staff.

Last year Qantas came 15th. Virgin Australia went the other way, dropping from 13th place last year to 22nd place this year. That was one place ahead of Russia’s Aeroflot, which is performing very well these days. Jetstar came in at 46th.

Singapore Airlines also gained awards for the World’s Best First Class, Best Airline in Asia and Best First Class Airline Seat categories in the 2018 rankings.

It’s the fourth time SIA has been named World’s Best Airline in the survey, which now covers more than 20 million travellers, who rated more than 335 airlines between August 2017 and May 2018.

Singapore Airlines First Class

“Singapore Airlines is honoured to be named World’s Best Airline in the Skytrax awards, and I dedicate it to the 26,000 SIA Group employees who focus every day on delivering the world’s best travel experience to our customers,” said SIA’s chief executive Goh Choon Phong, who accepted the top award at a ceremony in London.

“The World Airline Awards are based on direct feedback from customers, who we know have more airlines to choose from in this highly competitive global environment. The recognition will further motivate us to improve upon the three main pillars of our brand promise – product leadership, service excellence and network connectivity – to ensure we retain our competitive advantage, and continue to meet and exceed customer expectations.”

CNN described the awards as “the aviation industry’s equivalent of the Oscars”.

That being the case, US airlines performed dismally. They failed to pick up a single award. The best airline in North America was Air Canada and the region’s best low-cost carrier was WestJet, also from Canada.

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
  7. Lufthansa
  8. Hainan Airlines
  9. Garuda Indonesia
  10. Thai Airways

Singapore Airlines new B787-10, the world’s first

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 carriers

Africa  –  Mango

Australia & 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

Written by Peter Needham