PARIS, France, Thursday June 18, 2015 – The Caribbean doesn’t have anything to shout about in this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards, but neither do North, South and Central America and much of Europe.
Instead, 18.9 million passengers in 110 countries looked east to cast their votes, with Qatar Airways emerging as the world’s best airline for the third time.
Qatar previously won the top prize in 2011 and 2012, and has been voted runner-up twice. The airline also scored as best airline in the Middle East and for best business class seating.
The awards, which were held this year as part of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, judge airlines on everything from the friendliness of their cabin crew to the quality of the food and seating comfort.
They were established in 1999, are compiled from the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey, and operate “independent of airline involvement, sponsorship or third-party influence,” according to Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted.
Other airlines making the 2015 Skytrax top 10 were (in alphabetical order): ANA (All Nippon Airlines, Japan), Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, EVA (Taiwan), Garuda Indonesia, Qantas (Australia), Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines was the only European carrier included in the top 10 this year, in the wake of the relegation of Germany’s Lufthansa.
AirAsia was voted best low-cost airline for the seventh year in a row, just six months after the catastrophic demise of one of its planes, QZ8501, which crashed into the Java Sea killing all 162 passengers and crew.
Air Asia also bagged the award for best low-cost airline in Asia, while subsidiary AirAsiaX scored for best low-cost premium cabin and best low cost premium class seat.
Last year’s overall winner, Cathay Pacific, took home the award for best transpacific airline, while Germany’s Lufthansa won for the transatlantic route.
Asiana, Air New Zealand and Austrian Airlines took the prizes for best in-flight meals, while Taiwanese carrier EVA Air was recognized as having the cleanest aircraft cabins.
Garuda Indonesia’s cabin crew were lauded as the best in the world, while Air France was hailed as the “most improved” airline.
Emirates won for its entertainment system, while Oneworld was rated the best airline alliance.
Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/the-worlds-top-10-airlines-for-2015#ixzz3dQV55y7e