World’s best airline revealed… and it’s not what you think

Flying in relative comfort, being attended to by great staff can really make or break a flight. There’s nothing worse than cabin crew who roll their eyes or squishy seats. That’s precisely why World Airline Awards are held – to sort the crap airlines from the impeccably good.

This year there’s been a surprising overall winner, and perhaps an airline we may not have flown with.

Middle-Eastern carrier Qatar Airways has been named the world’s best airline, taking out “Airline of the Year” at the annual World Airline Awards.

We thought it may have been Qantas or Etihad but no, the number one spot was awarded to the mysterious but very worthy airline.

The winners were announced at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday and are one of the more high-profile awards given in the aviation industry.

Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, were number one last year, but pushed out by three-time winner Qatar.

We did come in at number 10 after dropping to number 11 last year with our signature airline Qantas.

Qantas was also named the best airline in the Pacific region and won the award for best premium economy food. Virgin Australia won the award for best staff in the Pacific – great!

According to Traveller, CEO of Qatar Airways Group Akbar Al Baker said, “Our passengers are at the heart of everything we do at Qatar Airways, and we are very proud to be recognised by them,” he said. Qatar Airways flies 160 planes to 147 destinations around the globe.

It seems Asian and Middle-Eastern countries came out on top.

In other categories, AirAsia won best low-cost airline for the seventh year in a row, Singapore Airlines won best business class, Emirates won best inflight entertainment, while Garuda Indonesia won best cabin crew for the second year in a row.

The world’s top 10 airlines

1. Qatar Airways

2. Singapore Airlines

3. Cathay Pacific Airways

4. Turkish Airlines

5. Emirates

6. Etihad Airways

7. ANA All Nippon Airways

8. Garuda Indonesia

9. EVA Air

10. Qantas Airways

World’s Best Cabin Staff

1. Garuda Indonesia

2. Cathay Pacific

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Asiana Airlines

5. Malaysia Airlines

6. Qatar Airways

7. EVA Air

8. ANA All Nippon Airways

9. Thai Airways

10. Hainan Airlines

World’s Best Economy Class Airlines

1. Asiana Airlines

2. Singapore Airlines

3. Qatar Airways

4. Garuda Indonesia

5. Cathay Pacific Airways

6. ANA All Nippon Airways

7. Emirates

8. Turkish Airlines

9. Thai Airways

10. EVA Air

World’s Best Business Class Airlines

1. Singapore Airlines

2. Qatar Airways

3. Cathay Pacific

4. ANA All Nippon Airways

5. Etihad Airways

6. Garuda Indonesia

7. Qantas Airways

8. Emirates

9. Turkish Airlines

10. Oman Air

World’s Best Inflight Entertainment

1. Emirates

2. Qatar Airways

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Qantas

5. Etihad Airways

6. Turkish Airlines

7. Cathay Pacific

8. Virgin Atlantic

9. Thai Airways

10. Air France