Qatar Airways took top honours as the world’s best airline in the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, beating last year’s winner, Emirates, and perennial favourite Singapore Airlines.
The Doha-based carrier’s win comes in turbulent times as Qatar battles a travel blockade imposed by its estranged neighbours, prompting Qatar Airways group CEO Akbar Al Baker to attribute the award “not to me, not to my airline, but to my country”.
Akbar (middle) celebrates the win; photo credit: Qatar Airways
In second place this year is Singapore Airlines, followed in order by All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines and Garuda Indonesia.
Asian airlines dominated the overall top 10 but were in the minority in the LCC category – which saw AirAsia, Norwegian and jetBlue Airways, easyJet and Virgin America in the top five. Jetstar Airways placed sixth, AirAsiaX seventh and Indigo 10th.
Meanwhile, the best airline economy class accolade went to Thai Airways, while Qatar Airways also bagged the world’s best business class award. Singapore Airlines got the winning votes for the best business class seats and Garuda Indonesia retained its title for the world’s best cabin staff.
