Editorial | Cathay Pacific returning to heights with awards
- Latest industry accolade for Hong Kong’s flagship carrier is well deserved, but airline must continue to refine services as it navigates post-pandemic recovery
Cathay Pacific Airways is heading back up where it belongs. It was good to see Hong Kong’s flagship carrier in the top five of a global industry ranking that also acknowledged it as the cleanest airline and best for economy class. It is important that it now stays on track and aims to reclaim the top position it once held.
The “independent and impartial” rankings, under the latest Skytrax awards, identified the top 100 airlines based on data from an online traveller satisfaction survey. Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways was voted the best for the eighth time in the 25-year history of the awards – followed by Singapore Airlines, Emirates and ANA, or All Nippon Airways.
Cathay rose three positions from last year to clinch fifth place, hot on the heels of last month’s improved showing with Airline Ratings, where it was named third best premium airline, up six places from last year.
The new accolades are a welcome change from the negative attention Cathay has drawn in recent years as it fought to rebuild a reputation battered by the pandemic and economic headwinds.
The airline has struggled with staffing and flight capacity problems, and in May 2023 was embroiled in controversy when crew members were sacked for insulting passengers from the mainland. Pilots were also accused of deliberately slowing down while taxiing on the runway in what was suspected to be a pay-related action.