Top 10 airlines for 2017 named at World Airline Awards

PARIS JUNE 2017: The World Airline Awards, sometimes called the Oscars of the airline industry, have been announced at the Paris Air Show. The chosen top airline of 2017 is Qatar Airways named as World’s Best Airline. That’s controversial because tiny Qatar is currently caught up in a diplomatic crisis affecting  a number of Middle East states.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have suspended ties with Qatar, severing air, sea and land links. But Qatar Airways is shrugging off the row, and will add 66 Airbus SE A350 planes over the next five years.

Taking top honours at the World Airline Awards will be another feather in the cap for Qatar Airways. The airline also picked up honours for World’s Best Business Class; Best First Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline in the Middle East.


Close to home Thai Airways (TG) received the awards for World’s Best Economy Class; Best Airline Lounge Spa Facility and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering.

Etihad Airways take top honours for World’s Best First Class; Best First Class Seat and Best First Class Onboard Catering. This marks the third time the airline has won all three First Class award categories at the World Airline Awards.

THE TOP TEN AIRLINES IN 2017 ARE:

1. Qatar Airways

2. Singapore Airlines

3. ANA All Nippon Airways

4. Emirates

5. Cathay Pacific

6. EVA Air

7. Lufthansa

8. Etihad Airways

9. Hainan Airlines

10. Garuda Indonesia


Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker
Some of the 2017 winning airlines and best airline alliance:

Garuda Indonesia retains its prestigious title for World’s Best Cabin Staff.

EVA Air has the world’s cleanest airplane cabins, say global travellers.

Thai Airways wins a major award, being named world’s Best Airline Economy Class.

Bangkok Airways wins the World’s Best Regional Airline award for the second consecutive year.

Lufthansa is named the Best Airline in Europe and moves higher in the global rankings.

Singapore Airlines business class seat is voted the world’s best by customers.

Star Alliance takes gold for World’s Best Airline Alliance and World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge.

No USA airline made it into the top 10.

This is the fourth time that Skytrax have staged the Awards event at Paris Air Show. The Air Show organisers (GIFAS) provided the fabulous Air and Space Museum as the venue.

A-Z OF THE 2017 AIRLINE AWARD WINNERS

Aegean Airlines

Best Regional Airline in Europe

Aeroflot Russian Airlines

Best Airline in Eastern Europe

AirAsia

World’s Best Low-Cost Airline

Best Low-Cost Airline in Asia

AirAsia X

World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Cabin

World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Seat

Air Astana

Best Airline in Central Asia / India

Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia / India

Air Canada

Best Airline in North America

Alaska Airlines

Best Regional Airline in North America

Best Airline Staff in North America

ANA All Nippon Airways

World’s Best Airport Services

Best Airline Staff Service in Asia

Austrian Airlines

Best Airline Staff Service in Europe

Avianca

Best Airline in South America

Best Regional Airline in South America

Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras

Best Low-Cost Airline in South America

Best Airline Staff in South America

Bangkok Airways

World’s Best Regional Airline

Best Regional Airline in Asia

Copa Airlines

Best Airline in Central America / Caribbean

Best Airline Staff in Central America / Caribbean

Emirates

World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment

Best First Class Comfort Amenities

Ethiopian Airlines

Best Airline in Africa

Etihad Airways

World’s Best First Class

Best First Class Seat

Best First Class Onboard Catering

EVA Air

World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness

Best Business Class Comfort Amenities

Fastjet

Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa

Finnair

Best Airline in Northern Europe

Flynas

Best Low Cost Airline in the Middle East

Garuda Indonesia

World’s Best Cabin Crew

Hainan Airlines

Best Airline in China

Best Airline Staff Service in China

Indigo

Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia / India

Japan Airlines

Best Economy Class Airline Seat

Jetstar Airways

Best Low-Cost Airline in Australia / Pacific

Lufthansa

Best Airline in Europe

Best First Class Airline Lounge Dining

Best Airline in Western Europe

Norwegian

World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline

Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe

Oman Air

Best Airline Staff in the Middle East

Plaza Premium

World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge

Qantas

World’s Best Premium Economy Class

Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seat

Qatar Airways

World’s Best Airline

World’s Best Business Class

Best First Class Airline Lounge

Best Airline in the Middle East

Royal Air Maroc

Best Regional Airline in Africa

Saudi Arabian Airlines

World’s Most Improved Airline

Singapore Airlines

Best Airline in Asia

Best Business Class Airline Seat

Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering

South African Airways

Best Airline Staff in Africa

Star Alliance

World’s Best Airline Alliance

World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge

Thai Airways

World’s Best Economy Class

Best Airline Lounge Spa Facility

Best Economy Class Onboard Catering

Thomson Airways

World’s Best Leisure Airline

Turkish Airlines

World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge

Best Business Class Onboard Catering

Best Business Class Lounge Dining

Best Airline in Southern Europe

Virgin Australia

Best Airline in Australia/Pacific

Best Airline Staff in Australia/Pacific

West Air

Best Low-Cost Airline in China

The prestigious World Airline Awards are widely considered to be a global benchmark of airline excellence.

Winners are chosen based on the votes and findings of a 10-month survey of over 19 million air travellers from 105 countries.

The survey covers over 325 airlines, from the largest international airlines to smaller domestic carriers, measuring quality standards for 41 key performance indicators across front-line product and service factors in the airport and onboard environments.