TripAdvisor has come out with the list of the top 10 airlines in the world for 2018, and the top spot went to Singapore Airlines. The list of the top 10 airlines in the world is a part of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards.
In a statement, Singapore Airlines’ CEO Goh Choon said, “The award is a validation of the hard work and dedication of our thousands of staff all around the world, who focus their attention every day on ensuring that Singapore Airlines remains competitive on a global level.” Singapore Airlines was number two in the TripAdvisor’s 2017 list of top 10 airlines in the world.
On Monday, TripAdvisor revealed the list of the top 10 airlines in the world, where the second spot was bagged by Air New Zealand, followed by Emirates in third. Emirates was the winner last year, while Air New Zealand was ranked number five on the 2017 list.
Southwest Airlines at number six was the only North American carrier in the top ten list. “It’s an honor to receive several TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for Airlines including being the only U.S.-based carrier named a top ten airline in the world,” Ryan Green, Southwest Airlines’ chief marketing officer, said.
Others in the list of the top 10 airlines in the world were Japan Airlines at number four, EVA Air at five, Jet2.com at seven, followed by Qatar Airways, Azul and Korean Air. U.K.-based Jet2.com, Taiwan’s EVA Air, and Qatar Airways are the new entrants to the list. Asian airlines – Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, EVA Air and Korean Air – dominated the list bagging four spots. Middle East airlines won two places.
Travelers were majorly impressed with the exceptional food quality and attentive staff of the Singapore Airlines. For Emirates, the size of the airline’s superjumbo planes and wider and more comfortable seats impressed the most. Japan Airlines was praised for its leg room and “outstanding” crew.
It must be noted that many popular airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines failed to secure a place in TripAdvisor’s list of the top 10 airlines. According to TripAdvisor, the rankings are based on travelers’ responses over a 12-month period. These responses are fed into an algorithm, which considers the quantity and quality of reviews.
TripAdvisor first came up with its airline reviews in July 2016. The travel site allows travelers to share their experiences of all major airlines. Apart from the feedback, users can also rate the airlines on several parameters including cleanliness, customer service, food and beverage, legroom, value for money, in-flight entertainment, seat comfort and check-in and boarding.
Apart from the top 10 list, TripAdvisor also awarded airlines in specific categories. Singapore Airlines was awarded the top spot in the economy and first class, while Qatar Airways was the best in business class. Air New Zealand was found to have the number one premium economy offering.
Six North American airlines were awarded for offering a standout experience to the travelers – Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and WestJet. Southwest won the award for the best economy class in the North American category, while JetBlue won it for the best business class.
In a separate survey of the U.S. airlines, Alaska Airlines bagged the top spot. Based on the annual Airline Quality Rating, Alaska Airlines secured the first spot for the second time in a row. Delta Airlines was at a close second. According to Dean Headley, a professor at Wichita State University, “Alaska and Delta are so tight together, we had to take it to three decimal places just to see who won.”
Brent Bowen from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Headley are responsible for the Airline Quality Rating. The rating evaluates U.S. airlines on four factors – the percentage of bags mishandled, on-time arrivals, denied boardings and complaints to the DOT.
According to Headley, Alaska Airlines has been consistently delivering quality service. “Alaska has pushed over the last year or so … to do everything right. They want to be the best airline, and it shows. The intent is there and the performance is there,” Headley said, according to CNBC.
Others on the list are: JetBlue, Hawaiian, Southwest, SkyWest, Virgin America, United, American, ExpressJet, Frontier and Spirit. Overall, the Airline Quality Rating showed that the quality of airline service was much better. There were fewer instances of passengers being forced out from flights or mishandling of the bags.
