Everyone has an opinion on their favourite airline, but each year passengers around the world vote and we get a definitive answer on the world’s best: this year, the award has gone to Singapore Airlines.
The Singaporean flag carrier airline based out of Changi Airport flies to 64 destinations around the world. The Asian airline has maintained a fine reputation for decades, but at the recent World Airline Awards it was voted the world’s best.
Alongside the coveted top spot the airline won a haul of other accolades. It was voted world’s best first class, best first class airline seat and best airline in Asia.
“Singapore Airlines is honoured to be named ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the Skytrax awards,” said CEO Mr Goh Choon Phong from a lavish awards ceremony in London.
“And I dedicate it to the 26,000 SIA Group employees who focus every day on delivering the world’s best travel experience to our customers.”
It is the fourth time Singapore Airways has won the top spot, the last being in 2008. This year the airline toppled Qatar Airways, the 2017 world’s best airline winner.
World’s best airlines 2018
1 Singapore Airlines (2)
2 Qatar Airways (1)
3 ANA/All Nippon (3)
4 Emirates (4)
5 EVA Air (6)
6 Cathay Pacific (5)
7 Lufthansa (7)
8 Hainan Airlines (9)
9 Garuda Indonesia (10)
10 Thai Airways (11)
How Singapore Airlines beat the crowd
The awards are voted for by passengers from all over the world, who largely say Singapore is the airline to book for a consistent travel experience.
They are also the fastest-learning, having only installed their new first class suites a year ago, they have already won the best in the world in their division.
Singapore Airlines scored equally highly for both product and service off the back of exclusive features, such as their roomy on-board suites, and the polite manner of their air stewards.
Some of the outstanding additional features on Singaporean Airlines flights include complimentary meals designed by world-leading chefs (even in economy), air sommeliers, and more spacious seating.
A return flight in economy flying from London to Changi Airport in Singapore costs around £500-700 outside of school holidays.
That is slightly more than travellers would spend with competitor carriers like Qantas or British Airways, but Singapore believe their enhanced experience justifies the price hike.
Other big winners
China Southern Airlines won best improved airline, Garuda Indonesia took world’s best cabin crew and Qatar Airways were awarded world’s best business class.
British Airways will have been pleased to land the best cabin crew in the UK award, while TUI Airways walked away with best leisure airline in the UK.
The Skytrax World Airline Awards is perhaps the most prestigious airline awards ceremony, and has taken place annually for 18 years. The ceremony’s annual customer satisfaction survey is filled out by some 20 million people every year, who hail from over 100 different nations.
You can view the full list of 2018 awards winners here.
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