International air transport rating organisation, Skytrax, has announced the winners of the 2024 World Airline Awards.  Widely known as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’, the awards judge airlines based on independent and impartial data gathered through customer surveys paid for by Skytrax.

Taking out the top award for World’s Best Airline 2024 is Qatar Airways. The flag carrier of Qatar not only took out the most prestigious accolade but also scooped the number one spot for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Lounge and the Best Airline in the Middle East. 

The 2023 Airline of the Year winner, Singapore Airlines, was ranked No 2 in the world for 2024, with Emirates in third place, ANA All Nippon Airways fourth, and Cathay Pacific in fifth position, out of more than 350 airlines included in the survey results.

When it comes to the airline that serves the best food, Turkish Airlines was recognised for its excellence when it comes to the food it provides in Business Class, being named the airline for the Best Business Class Catering. 

And the French know a thing or two about fine-dining, even at altitude. Air France won multiple awards in 2024, including Word’s Best First Class Catering and the Best First Class Lounge Dining. The flag carrier of France plates up a cuisine curated by two three-Michelin-starred chefs, Glenn Viel and Julien Royer. 

When it comes to Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas dropped from position 17 in 2023 to the 24th spot in 2024 in global rankings. In 2022, Qantas was ranked the fifth best airline in the world. Fiji Airways was named the best airline in the Australia and Pacific region, followed by Air New Zealand and Qantas. 

Here is the Skytrax World’s Top 20 Airlines in 2024  list: 

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Japan Airlines
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Air France
10. Swiss International Air Lines
11. Korean Air
12. Hainan Airlines
13. British Airways
14. Fiji Airways
15. Iberia
16. Vistara
17. Virgin Atlantic
18. Lufthansa
19. Etihad Airways
20. Saudi Arabian Airlines

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