The Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards have been announced and Qantas has had to play second fiddle to another regional carrier, albeit from the same stable.
A gala affair was held close to London’s Heathrow Airport to announce Qatar Airways had received the top gong as the World’s Best Airline with another prestigious award being handed down to Fiji Airways, which was crowned Best Airline in Australia and Pacific for the second consecutive year.
Fiji’s National Carrier beat out Air New Zealand which came in second, followed by Australia’s national carriers, Qantas, Rex, Virgin and Jetar. Fiji Air which is part-owned by Qantas also won the award as the Best Airline Staff Service in Australia / Pacific.
Qantas dropped seven places on their 2023 world ranking from 17 to finish outside the Top 20 in 24th position.
QantasLink placed seventh separately, with Air Tahiti also in the top ten local carriers.
Travellers from across the world voted in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners, with more than 21 million entries, and 350 airlines featured in the final results.
UK-based Skytrax said the votes were the closest run since the awards, known as the Oscars of commercial aviation, began in 1999.
Widely regarded as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’, the World Airline Awards began in 1999, and Qatar Airways has now made it a staggering eight victories in the top category.
Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This is a proud Qatar Airways moment and it is my honour to share this award with my hardworking colleagues. This award isa testimony to our relentless dedication to providing unparalleled service and innovation. We look forward to more wins in the future.”
In addition to being named the World’s Best Airline 2024, Qatar Airways also scooped the top awards for the World’s Best Business Class, the World’s Best Business Class Lounge and the Best Airline in the Middle East.
The 2023 Airline of the Year winner, Singapore Airlines, was ranked No 2 in the world for 2024, with Emirates in third place, ANA All Nippon Airways fourth, and Cathay Pacific in fifth position, out of more than 350 airlines included in the survey results.
Singapore Airlines took top honours with the award for the World’s Best Cabin Staff and their First Class Suites continue to dominate by winning the award as the World’s Best First Class. In one of the most competitive global regions for airline service standards, Singapore Airlines also scooped the accolade for the Best Airline in Asia.
The award for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline was won by British Airways. This award covers many aspects of the experience, including family seating policies, family check-in facilities, priority boarding, children’s meals, children’s amenities/toys/activity packs, child-specific onboard entertainment, child luggage and policies for carrycot/pushchairs, and the standards of service assistance from ground staff and cabin crew during the family travel experience.
Star Alliance collected the award as the World’s Best Airline Alliance and also won the Best Airline Alliance Lounge award for its new Paris CDG Airport lounge.
Here is the Skytrax World’s Top 10 Airlines in 2024 list:
1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. ANA AII Nippon Airways
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Japan Airlines
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Air France
10. Swiss International Air Lines