Qatar Airways has been voted the World’s Best Airline at the 2024 World Airline Awards, the eighth time that the airline has scooped the Airline of the Year title in the 25-year history of the awards.
The 2024 World Airline Awards have been announced in a gala ceremony held on Monday 24th June 2024 at the iconic Fairmont Windsor Park, close to London Heathrow Airport. More than 325 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 staff proudly displaying 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.
Commenting on Qatar Airways achievements, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This is a proud Qatar Airways moment and it is my honour to share this award with my hardworking colleagues. This award is testimony to our relentless dedication to providing unparalleled service and innovation. We look forward to more wins in the future.”
In addition to being named the World’s Best Airline 2024, Qatar Airways also scooped the top awards for the World’s Best Business Class, the World’s Best Business Class Lounge and the Best Airline in the Middle East.
The 2023 Airline of the Year winner, Singapore Airlines, was ranked No 2 in the world for 2024, with Emirates in third place, ANA All Nippon Airways fourth, and Cathay Pacific in fifth position, out of more than 350 airlines included in the survey results.
Singapore Airlines took top honours with the award for the World’s Best Cabin Staff and their First Class Suites continuing to dominate by winning the award as the World’s Best First Class. In one of the most competitive global regions for airline service standards, Singapore Airlines also scooped the accolade for the Best Airline in Asia.
ANA All Nippon Airways achieves the No 4 global ranking, repeating earlier success by winning the award for the World’s Best Airport Services. ANA also won the award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Asia.
Saudi Arabian Airlines wins the 2024 award as the World’s Most Improved Airline, ahead of STARLUX Airlines in 2nd place and PLAY in 3rd position. This award reflects an airline’s Quality improvement across the entire Awards programme, evaluating each 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 received a top award as the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline.
Spanish airline, Volotea, received the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe, a great achievement for such a competitive cost airline market. Transavia France was ranked No 2 in Europe, and Vueling in third place.
The award for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline was won by British Airways. This award covers many aspects of the experience, including family seating policies, family check-in facilities, priority boarding, children’s meals, children’s amenities / toys / activity packs, child specific onboard entertainment, child luggage and policies for carrycot / pushchairs, and the standards of service assistance from ground staff and cabin crew during the family travel experience.
Plaza Premium received the award as the World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge operator, with its Plaza Premium Lounge at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport ranking top in 2024.
Cathay Pacific received the award for the World’s Best Economy Class, with Japan Airlines winning the award for the World’s Best Premium Economy Class.
The Best Regional Airline Awards are for full service airlines 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, and for the eighth consecutive year has proven to be a true customer favourite.
In the India / South Asia region, Vistara reigns supreme and was again named winner of the Best Airline in India / South Asia award, in addition to Best Airline Staff Service for the region.
Fiji Airways secured the Best Airline in Australia / Pacific for the second time, and also won the award as the Best Airline Staff Service in Australia / Pacific.
In North America, Delta Air Lines received the awards as the Best Airline in North America, also collecting the top award for the Best Airline Staff Service for the region.
Allegiant Air received the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in North America for the first time, in what is a very competitive LCC market.
Air Transat were named the World’s Best Leisure Airline, an award the Canadian airline has won on five previous occasions.
Ethiopian Airlines has won the Best Airline in Africa award for the sixth consecutive year, Turkish Airlines was the Best Airline in Europe, Hainan Airlines was named the Best Airline in China and airBaltic won the award as the Best Airline in Eastern Europe.
Turkish Airlines was also recognised for its very high catering standards with the Best Business Class Catering award.
Air France was a multiple winner in 2024, with three awards for the World’s Best First Class Catering, the Best First Class Lounge Dining (CDG) and the Best Airline in Western Europe.
Star Alliance collected the award as the World’s Best Airline Alliance and also won the Best Airline Alliance Lounge award for its new Paris CDG Airport lounge.
The World’s Top 20 Airlines in 2024
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Japan Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- EVA Air
- Air France
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Korean Air
- Hainan Airlines
- British Airways
- Fiji Airways
- Iberia
- Vistara
- Virgin Atlantic
- Lufthansa
- Etihad Airways
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
» View the top 100 Airlines 2024
The World’s Best Cabin Staff in 2024
- Singapore Airlines
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Garuda Indonesia
- EVA Air
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Hainan Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- Thai Airways
- Qatar Airways
- Malaysia Airlines
The World’s Cleanest Airlines in 2024
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- EVA Air
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Asiana Airlines
- Hainan Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- China Airlines
- Korean Air
The World’s Best Independent Airport Lounges in 2024
- Plaza Premium – FCO
- America Express Centurion – JFK
- Pearl Lounge – BAH
- Sapphire Lounge by The Club – LGA
- Plaza Premium – DXB
The World’s Best Leisure Airlines in 2024
- Air Transat
- SunExpress
- TUI Airways
- Condor Airlines
- TUIfly
The World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airlines in 2024
- Scoot
- Jetstar Airways
- Norse Atlantic Airways
- Air Canada rouge
- ZIPAIR
A number of Best Airline Staff Service awards were presented, these being important awards that recognise the combined airline staff service standards across both the airport and the onboard experience. Iberia was the winner of the Best Airline Staff Service in Europe, Kenya Airways was the winner of the Best Airline Staff Service in Africa, and Oman Air triumphed by winning the Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East region award.
The World Airline Awards cover all types of travel classes, with an overall Best by Cabin award, Best Seats by Cabin, Best Lounges and Best Onboard Catering by cabin. The overall winners for these awards are:
- The World Best First Class Airline: Singapore Airlines
- The World’s Best Business Class Airline: Qatar Airways
- The World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airline: Japan Airlines
- The World’s Best Economy Class Airline: Cathay Pacific Airways
» View the full 2024 Awards results
ABOUT THE 2024 WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS
The World Airline Awards are wholly independent and impartial, introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that was truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners.
All costs of the Survey and Awards event are paid by Skytrax, and airlines do not pay any entry or registration fee. There are no charges for use of the Award logos and results.
The online customer survey operated from September 2023 to May 2024. The customer survey is provided in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. Over 100 customer nationalities participated in the 2023/2024 survey. Survey entries are screened to identify IP and user information, with all duplicate, suspect or ineligible entries deleted. More than 350 airlines are featured in the final Award results.
