SA’s airlines receive recognition at 2024 Skytrax Awards

Four of South Africa’s airlines have received recognition in Skytrax’s World Airline Awards.

Widely regarded as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’, the World Airline Awards began in 1999. They are a reflection of an independent and impartial customer satisfaction study. The 2024 awards were based on an online customer survey operated from September 2023 to May 2024.

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South African Airways (SAA) was ranked the third-best carrier on the African continent. The airline also won the award for ‘Cleanest Airline in Africa’, which is based on ratings of the standard and quality of cleanliness and presentation in the aircraft cabins, washrooms and seat areas.

LIFT won the category of ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa’, making it the youngest African airline to ever receive a World Airline Award.

According to LIFT CEO, Jonathan Ayache, winning the award is a joyful accomplishment.

‘We are absolutely thrilled to receive our first-ever Skytrax Award! Winning the ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa’ is a huge feat for our domestic airline that has been around for just shy of four years.’

In the ‘Best Airlines in Africa 2024’ category, Ethiopian Airlines led the continent on the number one spot, with four of South Africa’s domestic airlines also scooping awards.

Here are the top ten ‘Best Airlines in Africa’ winners:

1. Ethiopian Airlines. The airline also won ‘Best Airline in Africa’, ‘Best Business Class in Africa’, ‘Best Economy Class in Africa’ and ‘Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Africa’
2. Royal Air Maroc, which also garnered ‘Best Regional Airline in Africa’
3. South African Airways. It only came third, but also ‘Cleanest Airline in Africa’
4. Kenya Airways also received ‘Best Airline Staff in Africa’ and ‘Best Cabin Crew in Africa’
5. RwandAir
6. Air Mauritius. The airline also won ‘Best Business Class Onboard Catering in Africa’
7. EgyptAir was in seventh place and also was ‘Most Improved Airline in Africa’
8. Airlink
9. LIFT was overall ninth in Africa and ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa’
10. FlySafair

The full list of all award winners in all categories can be found on the Skytrax website.

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Picture: Getaway Gallery

Words: Nomvelo Masango / Getaway magazine