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.
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.
Qatar Airways A380.
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.
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker.
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
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.
Andrew was born in Yorkshire England, he is a professional hotelier, Skalleague, travel writer and director of WDA Co. Ltd and its subsidiary, Thailand by Design (tours/travel/MICE).
Andrew has over 35 years of hospitality and travel experience. He is a hotel graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh.
Andrew is a former board member and Director of Skal International (SI), National President SI THAILAND, President of SI BANGKOK and is currently Director of Public Relations, Skal International Bangkok. He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Thailand including Assumption University's Hospitality School and most recently the Japan Hotel School in Tokyo.
