What’s the world’s best airline? According to the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards, revealed at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, it’s Qatar Airways. This is the fifth time the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar has earned top spot in the prestigious awards. Last year’s winner, Singapore Airlines, slipped to second. AirAsia was named World’s Best Low-Cost Airline. In an almost flawless night for Qatar Airways, the Middle Eastern carrier also scooped the awards for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat, and Best Airline in the Middle East. “To be named as the World’s Best Airline is a great recognition of Qatar Airways’ high standards,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, an organisation that describes itself as a specialist research and quality adviser to the air transport industry. “To achieve this accolade for a fifth time is a remarkable achievement, and we congratulate them for this unique success.” Akbar Al Baker, group chief executive of Qatar Airways, said: “We are thrilled to be globally recognised by our customers by winning these four prestigious awards. Becoming the first airline to be named as Airline of the Year for the fifth time is a landmark achievement … it is a proud moment for the airline ... .” Despite losing out on the top accolade, Singapore Airlines also had four accolades, with the awards for World’s Best Cabin Crew, World’s Best First Class, Best Airline in Asia, and the World’s Best First Class Seat. Other winners in Asia included Philippine Airlines, voted World’s Most Improved Airline, Bangkok Airways, named World’s Best Regional Airline, and ANA, given the accolade for World’s Best Airport Services. Cathay Pacific finished fourth in the main category, up two places from 2018, and ahead of Emirates, but behind Japanese airline ANA. However, the Hong Kong-based airline came ahead of Qatar Airways in two categories, placing sixth in the World’s Best Cabin Staff category and eighth in the World’s Cleanest Airlines category. The annual World Airline Awards, launched in 1999, are voted for by passengers, with 21.65 million of them, from 100 different countries, voting online between September 2018 and May 2019. “All of today’s award-winning airlines are voted for by customers, and the focus of our annual survey is for travellers to make their own, personal choices as to which airlines they consider to be best,” said Plaisted. “We operate the survey and awards in a 100 per cent independent and impartial format … whilst every winner may not be the favourite of everyone, those that disagree should understand that these are the Passenger’s Choice Awards.” AirAsia beat easyJet and Norwegian to take the crown as best low-cost carrier, while sister company AirAsiaX placed fifth. Norwegian was named World’s Best Low-Cost Long Haul Airline. The World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2019 Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines ANA All Nippon Airways Cathay Pacific Emirates EVA Air Hainan Airlines Qantas Airways Lufthansa Thai Airways World’s Best Cabin Staff 2019 Singapore Airlines Garuda Indonesia ANA All Nippon Airways Thai Airways EVA Air Cathay Pacific Hainan Airlines Japan Airlines Qatar Airways China Airlines World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2019 AirAsia easyJet Norwegian Southwest Airlines AirAsiaX Jetstar Airways WestJet Indigo Ryanair Eurowings The World’s Cleanest Airlines EVA Air Japan Airlines ANA All Nippon Airways Singapore Airlines Asiana Airlines Hainan Airlines Swiss Int’l Air Lines Cathay Pacific Qatar Airways Lufthansa