SKYTRAX: Best Airline Awards 2024 – Qatar. Qantas & Virgin Australia downgraded to new low.
Skytrax ranked the 2024 Best Airlines in its Best Airline Awards. Qatar came out as the winner, while Singapore Airlines took the prize last year. I wouldn’t have any qualms with either of those decisions. Both airlines exhibit outstanding attributes in cabin design, operations, and onboard service.
Outside of this evaluation, Qatar does, however, come in for criticism for its customer support, its perceived and actual attitudes towards the LGBTIQ+ community and its treatment of female passengers forcibly and intimately searched a few years ago.
There are very few surprises in the top ten (in order): Qatar, Singapore, Emirates, ANA, Cathay, Japan, Turkish, EVA, Air France and Swiss Airlines.
You can see a list of the top 20 towards the bottom of this post.
Content of this Post:
Qantas and Virgin Australia go low
Both Australian airlines lost position in the rankings.
Qantas has slipped from 5th place in 2022 to 17th in 2023 and is now down to 24th in 2024. That drop seems to fit with the current criticisms of the airline’s performance and service. Also part of the Qantas Group, Jetstar has fallen from 69th to 74th.
Virgin Australia, admittedly having gone through administration and a makeover with new owners has slipped from 46th to 54th place.
REX goes high
Regional Express, the littlest airline having only entered the capital city to capital city market in the last few years, is the only Australian airline to have increased its rating from 56th to 50th.
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
2PAXfly Takeout
I haven’t flown on Qatar Airways since before the pandemic, but presuming they have maintained or improved their standards, coming top of the class is no surprise. I flew Singapore Airlines earlier this year, just on a short, technically international, but the equivalent of a domestic flight in Economy, and I was very impressed.its My last Singapore experience was 8 years ago when I had the great pleasure of travelling with them between London and Sydney in First Class. That was a great experience.
Skytrax is a controversial organisation with accusations that its evaluation method lacks transparency. Some of their previous decisions have been controversial, which have raised concerns about the relationship between their awards process and their airline and airport advisory services.
In the top 20, I might have a few quibbles, like why British Airways gets on the list at all. And finally, I am surprised that Oman Air doesn’t get a guernsey. My experience in 2023 in their business class on four flights was exceptional. Personally, on that basis, I would have put them near ANA.
My experience with Qatar this year would have dropped them out of the top spot. Website, and online support was some of the worst I have ever experienced over the past 40 years. The actual hard product did not meet expectations. And, the level of customer service was not nearly as good as I had expected. Flew Q suites from LAX to Doha and back. Also flew their non Q suites business class Doha to Zanzibar and JNB to Doha. The best flight was the non Q suites from JNB to Doha.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your comment. You are not the only one with a bad experience with Qatar Airways support, admin and ground systems. I have only flown on non-Q Suites flights, and enjoyed the hard product and service. Most people seem to love Q-Suites, but I have read a few negative experiences like yours. It’s always possible to get a bad flight, but you sound like a regular flyer, with enough experience to know what is a one-off, and what are systemic issues.