Singapore Airlines named Airline of the Year

For the 3rd time in 10 years, Singapore Airlines has been named World's Best Airline, winning the 2008 Airline of the Year title in the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards.

According to Skytrax, over 15 million eligible survey interviews were completed during the 11 month survey period. From Seoul to Sao Paulo, Copenhagen to Cape Town, the scale and breadth of the 2008 survey strengthens Skytrax's reputation as one of the world's largest passenger surveys.

Singapore Airlines also collected the award for Best Business Class in a very competitive section of the survey.

"Business Class standards continue to be upgraded by airlines across the world, and Singapore Airlines managed to retain their title amidst this growing level of competition" said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. "It is the whole business class package that is evaluated, from airport lounges, ground services to the quality of cabin seating, inflight entertainment, catering and of course the cabin staff service."

Cathay Pacific took 2nd place overall in the 2008 Awards (up from 3rd in 2007), and picked up the award for World's best First Class thanks to its new onboard 1st Class product and service concept.

Qantas ranked 3rd worldwide (5th in 2007) and won the award for the Best First Class Lounge - achieved in a period where the airline has seen competition ramped up both in its domestic and regional market.

"The global rating for Qantas is interesting" said Plaisted. "When we look at more localised studies, reporting etc, we found that Qantas comes under fire from some media that clearly contradicts a more widespread view of Qantas customers that voted for the airline in the survey. We do find that many countries flag-carrier airlines suffer fairly vitriolic levels of reporting in their local regions, and the airline industry remains a business that some areas of the press seem to love-to-hate!" 

"Another closely contested Survey category, the Best First Class Lounge Award is a true recognition of top-end quality being delivered, and Qantas have set a clear benchmark with their First Class facilities at Sydney Airport. This lounge in Sydney is the flagship for Qantas. Designed by Australian Marc Newson, the lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a 5-star hotel or restaurant, and the best part is that the concept is being so well delivered by Qantas" added Plaisted.

Thai Airways maintained a strong ranking, placed 4th worldwide (2nd in 2007) together with picking up 4th place in the Best Cabin Staff section of the awards.

Asiana Airlines was one of the biggest improvers across the 2008 results, ranked 5th worldwide (up from 12th in 2007), as well as taking the sought-after World's Best Cabin Staff Award and also collecting the Award for Best Economy Class. "This is clearly an airline on the move upwards" commented Edward Plaisted. "Smaller than it's national counterpart Korean Air, Asiana Airlines are developing an ever-increasing level of customer support, achieving some of the highest levels of customer satisfaction across today's airline industry. Some innovative cabin service concepts clearly contribute towards their success, but it is more apparent that Asiana Airlines is gaining a worldwide reputation based on the concept of superb customer service."

Malaysia Airlines ranked 6th worldwide (as in 2007), and was also the runner-up for the title of World's best Cabin Staff.

Qatar Airways is another 5-Star airline achieving a top-10 ranking (placed 7th worldwide), and collecting the award for Best Airline and Best Cabin Staff for the Middle East region, as well as the Best Business Class Catering category.

Air New Zealand ranked 8th worldwide (7th in 2007), and also collects the 2008 Award for Best Airline Transpacific, ahead of Qantas in that category.

Emirates maintained the same ranking as last year, placed 9th worldwide. The Dubai-based airline picked up the award for Best Airline Inflight Entertainment for the 4th year in succession,  ahead of Singapore Airlines in 2nd. 

A new entrant to the world's Top-10 airlines is Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways, securing 10th position in the 2008 Awards.

A repeat win was achieved by Virgin Atlantic in being named winner of the Best Business Class Lounge Award, having secured the title in 2007 for their Clubhouse facility at London Heathrow Airport.

Cathay Pacific won the Best First Class Onboard Catering Award.

In the year that Austrian Airlines celebrates it's 50th anniversary, the airline has another honour to mark the achievement, winning the award for Best Business Class Onboard Catering for the second year running. Qantas was named winner of the Best Economy Class Onboard Catering Award, based on their longer haul, international operations.

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