Japan Airlines was one of two Japanese carriers to make the world’s top 10 in the TripAdvisor poll, along with newcomer ANA. Photo: Kyodo
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https://scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3004406/tripadvisor-users-rate-singapore-airlines-best-world-again Travel & Leisure
Singapore Airlines best in world in TripAdvisor rankings again; Cathay Pacific misses top 10
- Asian airlines dominate global top 10 in travel website’s poll, with EVA Air third and best for business class in Asia; Singapore’s economy class No. 1 in world
- Emirates ranks fourth, and best in world for first class, Qatar Airways second, and best in world for business class; ANA ousts Korean Air from top 10
Hong Kong's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, has failed to make the world’s top 10 airlines list for the second consecutive year in an online poll organised by the world’s largest travel website.
In the TripAdvisor's Travellers’ Choice awards for Airlines, which identifies passengers’ favourite carriers around the globe, Singapore Airlines is once again the number one airline. It is the second consecutive year that Singapore Airlines has won the top honour. The company also won the title of the world's best economy-class airline.
“We are very pleased to be a back-to-back winner of the Best Airline in the World accolade in these prestigious awards,” says Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines. “We wish to thank our customers for their ongoing support, as well as our staff from all around the world who go the extra mile every day to deliver the best travel experience to our customers.”
Although Cathay Pacific missed out on a placing, the global top 10 is dominated by Asian airlines, with Taiwan's EVA Air, and Japan's JAL and ANA all featuring.
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Top 10 Airlines in the World
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. EVA Air
4. Emirates
5. Japan Airlines (JAL)
6. Southwest Airlines
7. Azul
8. Air New Zealand
9. Jet2.com
10. ANA (All Nippon Airways)
For the second year in a row, Cathay Pacific Airways doesn’t rank among the world’s top 10 airlines in the TripAdvisor poll of travellers. Photo: AP
The only substantial change compared to the Traveller’s Choice Awards 2018 is that ANA has replaced Korean Air, which dropped out of the global Top 10. Air New Zealand also tumbled to eighth place from second position in 2018, white Qatar Airlines did the opposite, rising to second place.
The Asia-specific awards for major airlines saw China represented by China Airlines and Hainan Airlines, with Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air and Thai Airways all ranked.
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Major Airlines: Asia
1. Singapore Airlines
2. ANA (All Nippon Airways)
3. China Airlines
4. EVA Air
5. Garuda Indonesia
6. Hainan Airlines
7. Japan Airlines (JAL)
8. Korean Air
9. Thai Airways
Singapore Airlines was rated best airline in the world, best major airline in Asia and best economy class airline in the world in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice rankings. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia's IndiGo won “best low cost airline”, while India's Vistara won “best regional airline”, and there was vindication for Kazakhstan's Air Astana. It was named “least desired” carrier in a 2018 survey by Graphic Springs of passengers’ brand perception of the top airlines, but Air Astana came second in the TripAdvisor Best Regional Airline section, and also topped the rankings for “passenger comfort” in Asia.
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Regional Airlines: Asia
1. Vistara
2. Air Astana
3. Bangkok Airways
4. Royal Brunei Airlines
5. THAI Smile Airways
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the TripAdvisor rankings is the airlines that are not included; an airline's brand and the reality of flying with it don't necessarily tally. For example, the two airlines with the most brand recognition worldwide, according to Graphic Springs – Lufthansa and British Airways – failed to make it into TripAdvisor's top ranks of global airlines. Similarly, the most desired airline brands are Etihad, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa, but of the three, only Qatar Airways made the ”'Top 10 Airlines” list in TripAdvisor’s rankings.
The business class lounge aboard a Qatar Airways Airbus A380. The Middle Eastern airline was rated best in the world for business class travel by TripAdvisor users. Photo: Alamy
In separate “'Class of Service” awards, there were more surprises. Although Singapore Airlines grabbed the “best economy Asia” award, EVA Air had success in both “best premium economy” and “best business class”, and Japan Airlines won the title of “best first class Asia”. Last month, JAL was named by FlightStats as “best on-time Asia-Pacific airline” for its domestic and international flights operated in 2018.
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Class of Service: Global
Best First Class: Emirates
Best Business Class: Qatar Airways
Best Premium Economy: Air New Zealand
Best Economy: Singapore Airlines
EVA Air was rated No 3 in the world, No 4 in Asia, and best in Asia for business class and premium economy in the TripAdvisor rankings. Photo: Alamy
TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Class of Service: Asia
Best First Class Asia: Japan Airlines
Best Economy Asia: Singapore Airlines
Best Premium Economy: EVA Air
Best Regional Business Class: Garuda Indonesia
Best Business Class: EVA Air
A first class suite on an Emirates Airbus A380. TripAdvisor users rated the airline’s first class the best in the world. Photo: Reuters
“The airline industry continues to focus on improving the overall flying experience, and these award-winning carriers are at the forefront,” says Bryan Salzberg, president, TripAdvisor Flights, Cruise & Car, congratulating the 57 airlines that featured in the awards. “Airlines worldwide recognise this Travellers’ Choice award as a huge testament to consumer recognition.”
The Travellers’ Choice award winners were determined by an algorithm based on the quality and quantity of flier reviews and ratings for airlines on TripAdvisor, gathered over a 12-month period between January and December 2018. TripAdvisor claims it generated 730 million user reviews and opinions in 2018.