Travelers who are on the fence about flying again may want to check out a new list of the world’s best airlines.
The airline safety website AirlineRatings.com published its list of “Top Airlines in the World,” which traditionally ranks carriers by safety, in-flight service, passenger comfort and flight routes.
But this year, new judging criteria are shaking up the rankings. For the first time, airlines are being judged in part by how they responded to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
“Covid impacted the ratings in two ways,” said AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas. “Airlines had to be Covid-compliant to our standards to be considered, and we deleted profitability as a criterion this year.”
And the winner is…
Qatar Airways took the No. 1 spot this year, named “Airline of the Year” by the website.
The Doha-based carrier was awarded the top prize due to its cabin innovation, in-flight service and “dedication and commitment to continue to operate throughout the Covid pandemic,” according to the site’s announcement on July 20.
site’s announcement on July 20.
Launched in 1997, Doha-based Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 140 destinations.
Doha-based Qatar Airways was launched in the mid-1990s and currently flies to more than 140 destinations.
Courtesy of Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways also introduced industry firsts, AirlineRatings.com said, such as being the first to complete the International Air Transport Association’s safety audit and among the first to trial its Covid Safe Travel Pass.
Qatar Airways also has one of the world’s youngest fleets, the announcement said.
The rest of the list
Here’s the full list, following by each airline’s position last year:
- Qatar Airways (9)
- Air New Zealand (1)
- Singapore Airlines (2)
- Qantas (4)
- Emirates (6)
- Cathay Pacific (5)
- Virgin Atlantic (7)
- United Airlines (N/A)
- EVA Air (8)
- British Airways (17)
- Lufthansa (11)
- ANA, or All Nippon Airways (3)
- Finnair (12)
- Japan Airlines (13)
- KLM (14)
- Hawaiian Airlines (16)
- Alaska Airlines (18)
- Virgin Australia (10)
- Delta Air Lines (19)
- Etihad Airways (20)
Most carriers maintained a similar position as they did in the 2020 list. Still, Qatar Airways jumped eight places to clinch the top spot, a position typically dominated by Air New Zealand.
