THE best airline in the world for 2024 has been announced, with a different carrier taking over top spot this year.
Last year Air New Zealand was voted number one, but it’s been replaced in this year’s list, published by AirlineRatings.com.
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The airline safety and product rating website has chosen Qatar Airways as Airline of the Year for 2024.
The Airline Excellence Awards are published each year, and are judged by five editors with more than 100 years of industry experience between them.
The carriers are judged on 12 key criteria, including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, safety rating, product rating and innovation among others.
Although it was a close-run race this year, passenger feedback swung it in favour of Qatar.
AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said: “In our objective analysis Qatar Airways came out number one in many key areas although it was a very close scoring for the top ten.
“The passenger reviews however scored Qatar Airways ahead of all airlines and its consistency and high standard of service delivery came through in the feedback.”
It wasn’t the only award that Qatar Airways picked up either, with the carrier also bagging Best Business Class for the fifth year running.
It also picked up the Best Catering award because of the food it serves on board.
The airline promises to focus “on local fresh and in season ingredients” and invites passengers to “excite your senses and choose from a variety of dishes on board”.
First and business class passengers are able to choose when they eat from the on-demand à la carte menu.
The airline offers “spacious dining areas at each seat,” where people can “savour your meal while relaxing in the utmost comfort”.
Passengers are especially fond of the airline’s Qsuites, found on their new Airbus A350-1000 planes, as well as some of their A350-900s, Boeing 777-300ERs and Boeing 777-200LRs.
In addition to the AirlineRatings award, the suites have also earned it the title of World’s Best Business Class at the Skytrax World Airline Awards for the last five years.
They claim to be the first-ever business class suites with doors to provide an extra layer of privacy for passengers.
Sun Travel’s Review of Qatar Airways
Sun Travel’s deputy editor Kara Godfrey reviewed Qatar Airways’ business class Qsuite. This is what she made of her experience.
“I was lucky enough to recently be invited onboard with Qatar Airways, to try out their Qsuite Business Class – and I’m not sure how I will ever go back to economy.
“Feeling more like First Class, it often dominates other airlines when it comes to awards.
“Most business class seats have lie-flat beds, three-course meals and some extra privacy.
“But the Qsuite felt like a hotel on a plane – having its very own private door you can close.
“Along with the high walls around you, it felt like you were in a little bedroom, where no one can see inside.
“The cabins run with a 1-2-1 format, so if in the middle you can pull the middle wall down if travelling with a companion, although I opted for a window seat.
“The lie-flat bed was obviously fantastic, with a cosy fleece blanket and pillow, as well as White Company pyjamas.
“Despite nearly seven hours on a plane, I didn’t want it to be over, and was almost sad to be arriving in Doha.”
Behind the doors, they can find ambient mood lighting, fully lie-flat beds and generous storage space.
It even offers a bespoke turndown service, complete with pillows, a quilted mattress and a soft, plush blanket.
Passengers are gifted The White Company sleepwear and slippers to help them get more comfortable in their beds.
Additionally they’re treated to a bespoke Diptyque branded amenity bag, and a lavish bespoke Diptyque gift box.
Inside these kits, they’ll find Diptyque lip balm, body lotion, face cream and an exclusive fragrance from their illustrious collection.
Meanwhile, this is the airline with the best economy seats in the world.
And here are the best airlines in the UK.
Top 25 Airlines 2024
These are the top 25 airlines in the world, according to AirlineRatings.com
- Qatar Airways
- Korean Air
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Air New Zealand
- Emirates, Air France
- KLM
- All Nippon Airways
- Etihad Airways
- Qantas
- Virgin Australia/Atlantic
- Vietnam Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- EVA Air
- TAP Portugal
- JAL
- Finnair
- Hawaiian
- Alaska Airlines
- Lufthansa / Swiss
- Turkish Airlines
- IGA Group (British Airways & Iberia)
- Air Canada
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
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