Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been named the best airline in the world, according to a recent Skytrax poll. Based on votes from nearly 20 million passengers, Singapore’s national carrier has surpassed Qatar Airways to grab the top rank.
In the 23-year history of the World Airline Awards, Singapore Airlines has won five Airline of the Year titles.
Thai Airways International, on the other hand, has risen from 46th to 40th in the World’s Top 100 Airlines 2023 list. At the Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards, the airline was also voted 8th for World’s Best Airline Cabin Crew and 9th for Best Airline Staff in Asia.
The 2023 World Airline Awards have been announced in a gala ceremony held in the iconic Air and Space Museum at the Paris Air Show. More than 350 guests attended the event from airlines across the world, with a large number of airline CEO’s, Presidents and Senior Management present to accept their awards. As has become customary at the World Airline Awards, there were a lot of uniformed airline cabin crew showing off the airline corporate brands.
Widely regarded as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’, the World Airline Awards began in 1999, and remain totally independent and impartial with all of the customer survey costs and awards event paid by the organisers, Skytrax.
“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,” said Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines.
“We are very grateful to our customers for their enduring loyalty to and affection for Singapore Airlines. During the pandemic, their support and encouragement gave us the strength and determination to overcome the unprecedented challenges. Today, as we recover from the pandemic, we are firmly committed to innovating and investing in industry-leading products and services, and ensuring that SIA continues to offer our customers a world-class travel experience.”
The seven times winner of the prestigious Airline of the Year award, Qatar Airways, was ranked No 2 in the world for 2023, with ANA All Nippon Airways in third place, Emirates fourth, and Japan Airlines in fifth position, out of more than 325 airlines included in the survey results.
“It is a fabulous achievement for Singapore Airlines to achieve this World’s Best Airline title for 2023. 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. We congratulate Singapore Airlines on this success which should be a source of great pride and satisfaction for the airline management and staff,” said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax.
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.
Kuwait Airways wins the 2023 award as the World’s Most Improved Airline, ahead of StarLux in 2nd place and PLAY in 3rd position. This is award reflects an airline’s Quality improvement across the entire Awards programme, evaluating an airline’s change in the global rating, and their performance in different award categories.
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, this being one of the most competitive low-cost airline markets in the world.
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.
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.
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.
The Best Regional Airline Awards are for full service carriers that primarily operate domestic and / or International flights up to approx. 6 hours. Topping the global ratings as the World’s Best Regional Airline is the repeat winner Bangkok Airways, a true customer favourite.
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.
