Qatar Airways has secured the prestigious title of World’s Best Airline from the respected aviation authority Skytrax at the 2017 World Airline Awards, held in Paris.
This marks the fourth occasion that the Doha-based carrier has claimed this honor since the inception of the Skytrax rankings in 2001. In a notable shift, Emirates—last year’s champion—dropped to fourth place, surprising many frequent flyers and industry insiders alike.
Regarded as the “Oscars of Aviation,” these awards are based entirely on passenger feedback. For the 2017 edition, over 20 million travelers worldwide cast their votes, rating 320 airlines across 49 distinct service and product categories, ranging from the efficiency of the check-in process to the refinement of in-flight dining and the professionalism of the crew.
Asian and Middle Eastern airlines continue to dominate the upper tier of the rankings. Singapore Airlines advanced to second place, with Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways securing third. Emirates and Cathay Pacific rounded out the top five, while EVA Air, Lufthansa, Etihad, Hainan Airlines, and Garuda Indonesia completed the coveted top ten list.
British Airways experienced a significant decline, ranking 40th compared to its 26th place finish in 2016. Virgin Atlantic also slipped, moving down five spots to 33rd position. Aeromexico landed at 100th, falling six places from the previous year’s results.
Individual class awards recognized industry leaders: Etihad Airways was celebrated for its First Class experience, Qatar Airways for its Business Class product, Qantas for Premium Economy, and Thai Airways for Economy Class excellence.
Garuda Indonesia was distinguished for having the World’s Best Cabin Crew, while Aegean Airlines earned the title of Europe’s best carrier.
The 2017 Top 10 World Airlines, as awarded by Skytrax, 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
The complete list of the top 100 airlines for 2017 is available on the official Skytrax website.