The world’s best airlines — and where Qantas finished in top 100
Qatar Airways, the airline denied more flights into Australia, has been named the world’s best at the Skytrax awards, as Qantas tumbled out of the top 20.
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Qatar Airways has reclaimed the title of world’s best airline from Singapore, as Qantas tumbled out of the top 20 in the annual Skytrax awards.
Regarded as the “Oscars of the aviation industry” the Skytrax awards are based on hundreds of thousands of passenger surveys and are funded by the organisers to ensure independence.
As well as claiming best airline, Qatar Airways won best business class for its QSuites product, and best business class lounge.
Qatar Airways is currently hoping to add more flights to Australia after being denied a request for 28 additional flights a week last year.
Group chief executive officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said he was honoured to share the awards with his hardworking colleagues.
“This award is testimony to our relentless dedication to providing unparalleled service and innovation,” said Mr Al-Meer.
“We look forward to more wins in the future.”
Qatar Airways is currently hoping to add more flights to Australia after being denied a request for 28 additional flights a week last year because they were not considered to be in the “national interest”.
Last year’s winner Singapore Airlines slipped to second in the awards but took out best cabin crew while Emirates finished third overall, All Nippon Airways’ fourth and Cathay Pacific fifth.
Once a fixture in the top ten, Qantas fell from 17th to 24th after a difficult period which saw former CEO Alan Joyce leave, and former chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson take his place.
Since then, Ms Hudson has made fixing “customer pain points” her priority in recognition of the harm done to the airline’s brand.
Despite being snubbed in the major awards, Qantas won best business class for the Australia-Pacific, best premium economy class in the region, cleanest airline in the Australia-Pacific and best on-board catering in premium economy and economy in the Australia-Pacific.
A Qantas spokesman said “we have been listening to our customers and our people and have been acting on this feedback with significant investment already underway”.
“We want our customers to feel the difference from the changes that we have put in place and in recent months we have seen customer satisfaction levels improve,” said the spokesman.
Qantas partner Jetstar jagged second spot in the world’s best low cost carrier rankings, behind Scoot while Virgin Australia was left empty-handed after falling from 46th to 54th overall.
Fiji Airways took out best airline for the Australia-Pacific ahead of Air New Zealand, with Qantas third and Rex fourth, ahead of Virgin and Jetstar.
Rex was celebrating after being named best regional airline for the Australia-Pacific, and fourth in the world.
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Originally published as The world’s best airlines — and where Qantas finished in top 100
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