The long awaited Skytrax awards have been unveiled and Qatar Airways has come out shining in multiple fields.
The airline has been named 2019 ‘World’s Best Airlines’ by Skytrax. They also achieved first place in ‘World’s Best Business Class Airlines’ for 2019.
The awards are selected from passenger and guest feedback, through surveys. 21.65 million eligible survey entries were counted in the final results, assessing over 300 airlines in 2019.
This year’s Skytrax award was held at the air and space museum at Le Bourget as part of the Paris Air Show. It was my first time being invited at Skytrax to see the 71 awards presented to the winning airlines.
It is no surprise that Qatar Airways came in first for “World’s Best Airlines” and “World’s Best Business Class Airlines”. Since Qatar Airways‘ Qsuite Business Class first took off in June 2017, it has been a game changer and are well received by travellers.
Here are the top ten “World’s Best Airlines” for 2019:
Here are the A-Z 2019 Airline awards winners.
Other Skytrax Airline winners
Singapore Airlines, Skytrax winner of 2018, came a close second this year winning World’s Best Cabin Crew, Best Airline in Asia, World’s Best First Class and World’s Best First Class Seat.
Hainan Airlines, a Skytrax 5 star airline for 9 years running, won Best Airline in China and Best Business Class Amenities.
ANA won Best Airport Services award and Best Business Class Catering.
Lufthansa won the Best Airline in Europe.
Air Canada won Best Airlines in North America and Best Business Class Lounge Dining.
Star Alliance won Best Alliance for the 10th year in a row!
Japan Airlines won World’s Best Economy Class Seat and Best Economy Class.
Air Asia won World’s Best Low Cost Airline and Air Asia X won World’s Best Low-Cost Premium Cabin.
Thai Airways won Best Airline Staff in Asia and World’s Best Airline Spa Facility.
Bangkok Airways won World’s Best Regional Airline.
Air Astana won Best Airline in Central Asia/India.
Ethiopian Airlines won Best Airline in Africa.
Iberia won Best Airline in Southern Europe.
Aeroflot won Best Airline in Eastern Europe.
Air France won Best First Class Lounge, Best First Class Catering and Best First Class Amenities.
Royal Air Maroc won Best Regional Airline in Africa.
Austrian Airlines won World’s Best Premium Economy Class Catering.
British Airways won Best Airline Staff in Europe.
EVA Air won World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness and World’s Best Economy Class Catering.
Fiji Airways won Best Airline Staff in Australia/Pacific and the Most Improved Airline in Australia/Pacific.
Air Transat was awarded World’s Best Leisure Airline.
Vietnam Airlines was awarded Skytrax 4 star airline.
Here are the A-Z 2019 Airline Awards Winners.
My Verdict
It was my first time attending the Skytrax Award Ceremony yesterday in Paris. It was a lot of fun and great celebration of success. It brought me a lot of joy seeing many airlines winning the right award! Let’s face it, it is always subjective when it come to the top prizes and favourites; the argument will never cease. I do not necessarily agree with all the rankings but I just wanted to attend, participate, record and thank you to all the hard working staff that made your airline shine at the Skytrax Award! You’re the heroes and champions to me!
Check out Sam’s video and blog review on Qatar Airways Qsuite!
For all the coverage from the 2019 Paris Airshow, stick around on this blog and its associated social media!
The difference between the recalcitrants of QR and Qantas demonstrated.
Overnight Qantas announced major changes and devaluations to their program. A giant fraud. A giant rip-off. But the difference is this. The civilized Australians did it and have given 3 months notice. So the new devaluation, the giant rip-off, does not come into effect until September.
Whilst we never like Frequent Flyer programs whom show their lack of respect and disloyalty by devaluing their programs, by changing the goal posts, at least QF had the decency to give 3 months notice of their great rip-off.
When QR did the same giant rip-off last year on May 27 2018, there was no warning, no notification and no respect to their most loyal customers. Nothing.
I guess it demonstrates clearly the difference between how Western businesses conduct business when ripping off their customers, as opposed to those like QR who give no notice whatsoever when they are ripping-off their customers.
Shame QR, Shame. It makes me wonder why we ever engage in business with this part of the world. Untrustworthy is being kind.
So I’m not. Not another dirham. Ever.
It’s a shame that you didn’t mention Air Canada, the best airline in North America that won a few Skytrax awards this year!
– The Best Airline in North America for the 3rd consecutive year, the 8th time in the past 10 years.
– The world’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining.
– Best Airline Staff in Canada.
– Best Business Class in North America.
– Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in North America.
Also, Air Transat, which is currently merging with Air Canada, won World’s Best Leisure Airline for the 2nd straight year.
Thank you for this. I will add Air Canada of course! (waiting to source a picture)
It is patently clear that people who vote for these people don’t have to deal with the things on the ground.
For me the on-board experience is very high up there, but dealing with these people on the ground has to be taken into account.
They massacred and robbed their frequent flyer program and members overnight last year ( May 27 2018 ) without notice, without warning. They refuse to ever admit they are wrong. It is almost impossible to get an award flight. And if you can get an award, you will need double points, sometimes triple to what was needed before May 27 2018. A night they devalued and butchered the program without warning to even their most frequent flyers. Their damn Platinums.
And even as a Platinum, you will pay for the privilege by being whacked over the head for up to USD 75 per sector on any award flight booked, it borders on theft. eg; SIN-DOH-JFK-DOH-SIN will cost you and additional $ USD 300 for having the audacity to remain loyal to them when they were blockaded by Saudia, Egypt, Bahrain, UAE. They have only just reinstated their call-centre after eliminating it completely. They actually closed down a centre that members could call into. Who does that?
As a Platinum member I cannot book award flights on a partner airline immediately, one must wait 72 hours to see if Qatar will grant it from on high.
If you dare book an award flight in QR business, you cannot use the lounge at DOH, you will be punted to the very inferior run of the mill ( and paid for by One World ) lounge, even as a Platinum. Even as a Platinum for Christs sake. What are these cowboys thinking?
These people are going broke, they are shonks and they disgust me. They have no shame whatsoever. And now this, rallying their staff to vote for them for this joke of an award. I just about give up.
I have all-but given these people away. I am using up the worthless points I have and they will never ever get another dirham of my money.
And just as this shonkie award is announced, France us jailing FIFA members who voted to give these people the Soccer World Cup. Even that is corrupt and they are being found out. Yet Skytrax, still, give them an award. Laughable. How much did they pay to, or fly exec’s from Skytrax to get this Award? Probably less than they paid to get the Soccer World Cup but I am sure it would be up there.
I regularly fly economy from the UK to South East Asia and for me, Singapore Air remains the best on seat sizes/space, food, customer service and arrival/departure times.