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
- Singapore Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Emirates
- EVA Air
- Cathay Pacific
- Lufthansa
- Hainan Airlines
- Garuda Indonesia
- 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