(TAN): Singapore Airlines was voted the World’s Best Airline at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the fifth time the airline has won this honour since the awards began in 1999.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong received the World’s Best Airline award on behalf of the airline in Paris on June 20. “This award is a testament to the indomitable spirit of our people, who worked tirelessly and made many sacrifices to ensure that SIA was ready for the recovery in air travel. That has allowed us to emerge stronger and fitter from the pandemic as a leading international airline,” he said.
Qatar Airways, seven-time winner of the Airline of the Year award, was ranked No 2 for 2023, with ANA All Nippon Airways in third place. Emirates came fourth, followed by Japan Airlines in fifth position.
[ALSO READ: Right lighting, mealtimes and sleep schedule can reduce jetlag, finds research]
More than 325 airlines were included in the competition.
Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “Singapore Airlines achieved excellent results in many of the award categories, with the highlight being recognition of their First Class cabin as the World’s Best First Class.”
Big winners at the awards included Qatar Airways who scooped nine award wins, with Singapore Airlines also receiving nine awards. In North America, Delta Air Lines was the success in North America, winning six awards. In Europe, Turkish Airlines was dominant, receiving four awards including the highly competitive Best Airline in Europe title.
Qatar Airways continued its domination in business class, winning the awards for World’s Best Business Class, the World’s Best Business Class Seat, the World’s Best Business Class Lounge (the Al Mourjan lounge at Hamad International Airport), the World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining and the Best Airline in the Middle East.
Singapore Airlines dominated the First Class travel awards, winning the awards for the World’s Best First Class, the World’s Best First Class Seat, the World’s Best First Class Comfort Amenities and took top position as the Best Airline in Asia.
ANA All Nippon Airways claimed third place in the global ranking, and repeats its earlier successes by winning awards for the World’s Best Airport Services and the World’s Cleanest Airline.
AirAsia was the repeat winner of the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline award, a title it has won each year since 2010. Scoot won the award as the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline. Volotea was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe.
[ALSO READ: Emirates offers complimentary stays at Dubai hotels]
A new award was introduced in 2023, for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline, this being won by Air Canada. This award includes family seating policies, dedicated family check-in facilities, priority boarding, children’s meals, children’s amenities/toys/activity packs, child-specific onboard entertainment, free checked luggage and policies for carrycot/pushchairs, and the standard of service assistance from ground staff and cabin crew during the travel experience.
Garuda Indonesia was recognised with a top prize after being voted as having the World’s Best Cabin Staff – the sixth time it has achieved success in this category.
Plaza Premium maintains its winning status by collecting the award as the World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge operator. The Plaza Premium lounge at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport which ranked No 1 in 2023, and Plaza Premium also had two other lounges featured in the Top 10 ranking.
Cathay Pacific had a notable achievement for 2023 as they were judged as providing the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment for the very first time.
[ALSO READ: San Francisco Travel Association launches USD 6 million tourism promotion campaign]
EVA Air won the award for the World’s Best Premium Economy Class (the travel cabin that EVA invented more than 30 years ago). EVA Air also won the award for the Best Premium Economy Class Catering.
Japan Airlines ranks No 1 in Economy Class, winning the award for the World’s Best Economy Class as well as the award for the World’s Best Economy Class Seat.
In the India/South Asia region, Vistara was again named winner of the Best Airline in India/South Asia award, in addition to Best Airline Staff Service for the region. IndiGo maintains its winning No 1 position as the Best Low-Cost Airline in India/South Asia.
Delta Air Lines was the Best Airline in North America, in addition to Best Airline Staff Service for the region. Sun Country Airlines wins the Best Low-Cost Airline in North America title for the first time.
[ALSO READ: Deal signed for Hyatt Centric Cairo West]
Alaska Airlines was the Best Regional Airline in North America. Air Transat was another big winner from North America after being named as the World’s Best Leisure Airline — an award the Canadian airline has won on four previous occasions.
For the sixth time, Ethiopian Airlines has won the Best Airline in Africa award.
In China, Hainan Airlines was named the Best Airline in China for the 12th time, as well as receiving the Best Airline Staff in China award.
