Emirates named World's Best Airline at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2016
Article continues below
Emirates was voted the World's Best Airline by customers at the 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards held at Farnborough Airshow. This is the fourth time Emirates has won this top prize in the awards history.
The airline also won the World's Best Inflight Entertainment award. Emirates improved its position across a range of awards categories performing well in First, Business and Economy Class survey sections and achieving a top-10 finish in the World's Best Cabin Staff category.
The World's Top 10 Airlines of 2016
1 Emirates
2 Qatar Airways
3 Singapore Airlines
4 Cathay Pacific
5 ANA All Nippon Airways
6 Etihad Airways
7 Turkish Airlines
8 EVA Air
9 Qantas Airways
10 Lufthansa
Qatar Airways was second in the global ranking and won a range of top awards being named the World's Best Business Class, the World's Best Business Class lounge and Best Airline Staff in the Middle East.
Third placed Singapore Airlines achieved top success winning the award for Best Airline in Asia, as well as the title for the Best Business Class Airline Seat. Commenting on the awards.
Cathay Pacific Airways was ranked No 4, with the airline also declared the World's Best for Cabin Cleanliness. It was a double celebration as Cathay also picked up the award for Best First Class Lounge for its recently renovated facility at its home base airport in Hong Kong.
ANA All Nippon Airways achieved repeat success, ranked No 5 in the world in the global results and also securing the awards for World's Best Airport Services and Best Airline Staff in Asia for the second successive year.
Etihad Airways was ranked No 6 worldwide and won three awards. The airline was named as having the World's Best First Class cabin, Best First Class seat and Best First Class catering.
Turkish Airlines ranked No 7 in the world were yet again named as the Best Airline in Europe. The Istanbul based carrier was also acknowledged for its Business Class catering with top prizes for both onboard and lounge dining standards.
The world's newest 5-Star airline EVA Air ranked No 8 in the world and named as the Best Transpacific Airline. The Taiwanese carrier was also considered to have the Best Business Class Comfort Amenities.
In ninth place, Qantas was dominant in the Australia & Pacific region winning the Best Airline in Australia / Pacific for the fourth successive year and also taking the award for Best Airline Staff in Australia & Pacific and Best Premium Economy Catering.
Completing the world's Top 10 airlines, Lufthansa was again successful being named as the Best Transatlantic Airline for the fifth time and also winning the Best Airline in Western Europe award.
Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia achieved a most significant success securing the top prize of World's Best Cabin Staff for the third straight year. To celebrate this award, Garuda Indonesia cabin staff entertained guests at the Awards ceremony by performing a live traditional dance.
Hainan Airlines secured the top awards for Best Airline in China, in addition to the Best Airline Staff Service in China. Other notable success for Hainan Airlines was their No 12 global rating. At the Awards event, Hainan Airlines was also presented with their 5-Star Airline Certification.
Thai Airways won a major award being named as the World's Most Improved Airline. The airline's premium Lounge Spa facility in Bangkok was also honoured with an award for Best Airline Lounge Spa Facility.
For the second successive year, Virgin America was named the Best Airline in North America. The San Francisco based airline, also took the award as the Best Low Cost Airline in North America.
Air France again celebrated success with the airline's First Class cabin securing 2 top awards. For the third successive year, the Air France First Class lounge dining at Paris CDG Airport was judged to be the world's best by customers and onboard, their First Class comfort amenities were ranked best in the world.
Asiana Airlines Economy Class cabin achieved a clean sweep winning the awards for World's Best Economy Class, Best Economy Class seat and Best Economy Class catering. This was the second successive year the airline has secured the award for best overall Economy Class.
Air New Zealand (for the fifth time in awards history) took the top position for World's Best Premium Economy Class, in addition also securing the award for Best Premium Economy Seat. Air New Zealand continues to be the market leader in the eyes of its customers.
Austrian Airlines secured an excellent victory being voted by customers as having the Best Airline Staff in Europe – this is the second successive year the Vienna based carrier has secured this top prize.
Bangkok Airways was named as the World's Best Regional Airline for the second time. The carrier was also declared Best Regional Airline in Asia. Capt.
AirAsia maintained it's dominance as the World's Best Low Cost Airline – this is eighth consecutive year that AirAsia has achieved this top position. There was further success with the long haul AirAsia X judged to have the Best Low Cost Airline Premium Cabin and Best Low Cost Airline Premium Seat.
Finnair continued their run of success winning the Best Airline in Northern Europe for the seventh successive year. The airline also successfully entered the global top-30 airlines.
Norwegian secured top prizes winning the Best Low Cost Airline in Europe for the fourth successive year, in addition to the award for Best Long Haul Low Cost Airline – for their expanding long haul operation.
Aegean Airlines was voted Best Regional Airline in Europe continuing their dominance in this category winning this award for 6 consecutive years.
Aeroflot Russian Airlines was crowned the Best Airline in Eastern Europe. This is the fourth consecutive year the Moscow based carrier has been awarded this top award and the fifth time in the history of the survey.
South African Airways retained its Best Airline in Africa title – continuing to be the only airline to hold this title in the 14-year history of the awards.
Air Astana was named Best Airline in Central Asia & India for the fifth consecutive year, in addition to being voted as having the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & India.
LAN Airlines continued their run of success winning the Best Airline in South America for the third successive year. This is the fifth time that LAN has won this prestigious award. Of course, this is the last time the LAN Airlines name will be present at the awards, with the new brand of LATAM Airlines now relevant for future award events.
Porter Airlines was a repeat winner of the award as the Best Regional Airline in North America.
Australia's Jetstar Airways won the Best Low Cost Airline in Australia & Pacific for the fifth successive year, with Toronto based Porter Airlines named the Best Regional Airline in North America for the third year.
IndiGo was in seventh heaven as it won the Best Low Cost Airline in India & Central Asia for the seventh time in as many years.
Azul Brazilian Airlines came out top for staff service. The airline was awarded for having the Best Airline Staff in South America, in addition to securing the prize for Best Low Cost Airline in South America for the sixth time.
Thomson Airways was named as the World's Best Leisure Airline. The UK based carrier continues to dominant this global award, having taken this top prize for four consecutive years.
Panama based Copa Airlines took home the award as the Best Airline in Central America & Caribbean. The carrier achieved a clean sweep of awards for the region, taking the top prizes for Best Airline Staff Service and Best Regional Airline.
Hawaiian Airlines was a first time winner securing the top prize of Best Airline Staff in North America.
Ethiopian Airlines was judged to have the Best Airline Staff Service in Africa by customers. This is the second time the Addis Ababa based airline has won the top prize in this award, also achieving a good result in the World's Most Improved Airline category with an eighth placed finish this year.
Shanghai based Spring Airlines was named as the Best Low Cost Airline in China.
Plaza Premium Group was a first time winner securing the top prize for the World's Best Independent Airport Lounge for its Heathrow Terminal 2 facility.
Royal Air Maroc continued their run of success by winning the Best Regional Airline in Africa for the third year, while Chilean regional carrier Sky Airline completed a hat trick by winning the Best Regional Airline in South America award.
Star Alliance was named the World's Best Airline Alliance, and also secured the Best Airline Alliance Lounge award for the second successive year for its Los Angeles Airport facility. ■