 This year’s World Airline Award results are out, and after three years absence from the top three, Singapore Airlines makes a big revival leap coming up trumps as ‘Airline of the Year’.
This year’s awards received 14 million eligible nominations from around the globe. Surveyed over 11 months, this year’s program further cements Skytrax as the industry’s ‘go-to’ reference guide.
“The 2006/7 World Airline Survey was our longest running and largest passenger survey ever,” said Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO.
“The jostle for Airline of the Year title was fairly constant throughout the survey period, and in particular the top 5 positions fluctuated on quite a regular basis - before Singapore Airlines clinched 1st place in the final count.
“I must in particular highlight the performance of the other top 5 airlines - Thai Airways taking second position (climbing from 4th in 2006), Cathay Pacific (a former winner of the title) ranked in 3rd place, Qatar Airways securing 4th position, and a new entrant to the Top 5 group, with Qantas taking 5th position,” Mr Plaisted continued.
Singapore Airlines was also named ‘Best Business Class’ for 2007, with ‘Best First Class Lounge’ being snapped up by the Thai Airways new Royal First lounge at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Asian carriers continued to do well, with ‘Best Cabin Staff’ this year awarded to Malaysian Airlines.
In response the CEO of Malaysia Airlines, Mr Idris Jala, said “I am very proud of our cabin crew and their outstanding performance. Our crew treat our customers as guests in our own home. They are natural, spontaneous, determined and willing to demonstrate the best of Malaysian hospitality.”
 The closest entrants this year came from the Middle East, with Emirates, Etihad and Qatar duelling it out. Emirates came out winner of the ‘Best Inflight Entertainment Award’; Qatar Airways enjoyed a triple success, winning the ‘Best First Class’, ‘Best Cabin Staff (Middle East region)’ and ‘Best Airline (Middle East region)’; Etihad Airways didn’t miss out either taking out the ‘Best Economy Class Catering’ award – due to, in no small part, their on board chef.
CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al-Baker, said, “It gives me great pride to receive these accolades, and credit goes to all our staff who are so dedicated to providing the very best service.”
2006/7 Headliners:
Airline of the Year - Singapore Airlines
Best Cabin Staff - Malaysia Airlines
Best Inflight Entertainment - Emirates
Best First Class - Qatar Airways
Best Business Class - Singapore Airlines
Best Economy Class - Korean Air
Best Low-Cost Airline - Jetstar Airways
First Class Catering - Gulf Air
Business Class Catering - Austrian
First Class Lounge - Thai Airways
 Business Class Lounge - Virgin Atlantic
Economy Class Catering - Etihad Airways
Best Airline Alliance - Star Alliance
Transatlantic Airline - British Airways
Transpacific Airline - Qantas
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