Asian And Middle East Carriers Dominate Awards For World’s Best Airlines

Asian and Middle East airlines have dominated the 2023 World Airline Awards, announced on June 20 during the Paris Air Show.

Singapore Airlines claimed the title of the world’s best airline for the fifth time, in an event held at the Air and Space Museum at Le Bourget airport close to the French capital. It edged ahead of last year’s winner Qatar Airways, which slipped back to second place.

They were followed by Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways in third place, Dubai-based Emirates in fourth and Japan Airlines in fifth.

In fact, of the top ten airlines, only two were from other parts of the world, with Turkish Airlines in sixth place and Air France in seventh spot. The highest-placed U.S. entrant was Delta Air Lines
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in 20^th place; among the few other North American carriers in the top 50 were Air Canada at 38^th and United Airlines at 49^th.

Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong welcomed the award for his airline, saying it was “a testament to the indomitable spirit of our people”. It is also a useful marketing tool as the industry continues to build itself back up from the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The awards were based on the results of an online survey by passengers, which covered more than 325 airlines around the world and was carried out by Skytrax between September 2022 and May this year.

The prizes for the best cabin classes were also all taken by Asian and Middle East carriers, with Singapore Airlines taking top spot in the race for first class service, while Qatar Airways won the award for best business class and Japan Airlines for the world’s best economy class.

Taiwan’s Eva Air won the award for the best premium economy class – a service that the airline was the first to launch in 1991, under the name Evergreen class.

Among the other awards, AirAsia won the prize for best low-cost airline once again – it has taken that prize every year since 2010. Scoot – a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines – won the award for the best long-haul, low-cost airline, while Bangkok Airways took the accolade of world’s best regional airline.

Kuwait Airways won the award for most improved airline, having climbed up from 76^th place last year to 42^nd overall this year.

Other than geographic-specific categories, the dominance of Asian and Middle East carriers was only broken in a small number of areas. Air Canada took the prize for the world’s most family-friendly airline – the first time this has been given out by Skytrax – while another Canadian carrier Air Transat was crowned as the best leisure airline.

Among the awards for different regions of the world, Delta Air Lines was named best airline in North America, while Turkish Airlines took the equivalent award for Europe, LatAm in South America, Ethiopian Airlines in Africa and Fiji Airways in the Australia / Pacific region.

Business dealings at the Paris Air Show have also been dominated by the same regions. On the opening day, Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo placed the largest order for aircraft ever made, with a deal for 500 Airbus A320 jets. The day also saw ambitious new Saudi airline Riyadh Air make its international debut.

The following day, Air India finalised another huge order, with 250 planes from Airbus and a further 220 from Boeing
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.