The World's Top 10 Airlines

I got into a debate recently about just who is the best airline in the world? It seems everyone has their own idea based on their own experiences of traveling. What constitutes an airline receiving the "best" accolade?


Is it their in-flight service, their aircraft or is it down to the pitch of their seating? Well it's a combination of all of the above and an awful lot more.

Here I take a look at the airlines that have been voted in the top 10 airlines of the world!

1. Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines may be based in a small country, but it covers a lot of international destinations and flies more passengers every year than the entire population of Singapore.

Singapore Airlines was formed in 1972, after the former airline Malaysia-Singapore Airlines was split into 2 separate entities - SIA owned by Singapore and Malaysia Airlines owned by Malaysia.



Destinations/Routes
Singapore Airlines serves 65 destinations in 35 countries, including Cairo, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Shanghai, Taipei, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul, Dhaka, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Malé, Karachi, Lahore, Colombo, Bandar Seri Begawan, Denpasar, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Manila, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuwait, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Copenhagen, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Milan, Rome, Amsterdam, Moscow, Barcelona, Zürich, Istanbul, London, Manchester, Vancouver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newark, New York, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland and Christchurch.

Aircraft
Singapore Airlines has a fleet of 103 aircraft, with an average ago of 6 years, and including 6 x A380-800, 5 x A340-500, 18 x B777-300ER, 15 x B777-200ER, 12 x B777-300, 31 x B777-200, 14 x B747-400, 2 x A330-300

Official Star Rating
Singapore Airlines is officially classified as a 5-Star Airline.

Skytrax is known for its World Airline Awards - they survey more people than anyone else, and the travel industry consistently awaits the results every year. These then, are the top 10 airlines in the world according to Skytrax.

2. Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, with its subsidiary, Dragonair, as an affiliate member of the alliance. The airline was awarded with a Five Star Airline ranking and 2009 Airline of the Year. Cathay Pacific is also a member of the Oneworld alliance and is the top ranked Asian-based airline by Skytrax.

Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its headquarters and main hub at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline also operates fifth freedom flights from Bangkok and Taipei, its major focus cities. The airline's operations include scheduled passenger and cargo services to 114 destinations in 36 countries worldwide

3. Qantas
Qantas is a member of Oneworld, alongside British Airways, and repeatedly scores well with passengers around the world for its service.

Qantas has taken delivery of six of its 20 Airbus A380-800 aircraft. This represents the second-largest A380 order of any airline in the world. These aircraft will grow our number of A380 services on four routes from Australia to London, Los Angeles and Singapore with two from Melbourne and two from Sydney.

4. Thai Airways
Thai Airways is the top ranked airline affiliated with Star Alliance. Thai is known for its inflight service, and its flight attendants wear traditional Thai clothing during their flights.

The privilege of flying First or Royal Silk Class is achieved by few. It acknowledges having reached high professional or social status, a level of attainment deserving, and expecting, exceptional standards.



Recognising that premium class travellers are entitled to very special treatment, Royal Orchid Lounges provide a luxurious environment in which to relax, or work, while in transit or awaiting a departing flight from Hong Kong.

With comprehensive facilities and attentive staff, THAI's Royal Orchid Lounges offer the traveller an exclusive retreat, discreet and decorous, part of this modern airport, yet removed from its crowds and stresses.

5. Asiana
Asiana Airlines is part of Star Alliance, and flies to over 50 cities in 17 countries.

In 2010, Asiana was named the airline with the best in-flight service in the world by Global Travelers magazine, which was the sixth honor for Asiana in as many years. Asiana is also rated the best airline in Northern Asia of 2010. Its magic shows, food created by chefs and other unique services helped it score well with 31,500 experts and passengers. Not to mention it's Cabin Staff.



6. Malaysia Airlines
The red and blue in the logo of Malaysia Airlines is said to represent equilibrium. Malaysia Airlines started operations in 1987, having originally been founded on 1947 as Malayan Airways.
   
Destinations/Routes
Malaysia Airlines flies to 87 destinations across six continents, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Macau, Shanghai, Xiamen, Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Dhaka, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Malé, Karachi, Colombo, Bandar Seri Begawan, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Bali, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Alor Star, Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kuching, Labuan, Langkawi, Miri, Penang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tawau, Yangon, Cebu, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jeddah, Dubai, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles, New York, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland, Buenos Aires.

Aircraft
Malaysia Airlines has a fleet of 79 aircraft, including 37 x Boeing 737-400, 11 x Boeing 747-400, 17 x Boeing 777-200, 11 x Airbus A330-300, 3xAirbus A330-200

Official Star Ranking
Malaysia Airlines is officially classified as a 5-Star Airline and holds SKYTRAX Quality Approved Airline status.

7. Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways may be in business for less than 15 years, but it has garnered a lot of international attention for its service.

Are you travelling between the Middle East and Europe? Well sit back and enjoy Qatar Airways' award-winning inflight entertainment system for a memorable flight. Qatar Airways is the first international airline to introduce live digital satellite TV onboard. This revolutionary state-of-the-art feature is available on selected Airbus A330 long-haul aircraft and the newly-launched Airbus A340-600.


See the latest Qatar Airways TV Commercial


8. Air New Zealand
This airline is a member of Star Alliance and although it is a small airline, it has made quick gains in winning over passengers with its customer service and safety record.

9. Emirates
Emirates hires a lot of foreigners as flight attendants for their airline, and this airline consistently wins awards for its service.

The airline ranks amongst the top 10 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue, passenger kilometres, and has become the largest airline in the Middle East in terms of revenue, fleet size, and passengers carried as of 2007. In 2009 the airline was the seventh-largest airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried,and fourth-largest in the world in terms of scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown.



10. Etihad Airways
Etihad is the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, and seek to reflect the best of Arabian hospitality - cultured, considerate, warm and generous - as well as enhance the prestige of Abu Dhabi as a centre of hospitality between East and West. 

Their vision and plan is to be a truly 21st century, global airline, challenging and changing the established conventions of airline hospitality. Etihad welcomes everyone who flies with them as a distinguished Guest, as reflected in the unique hospitality offered in their Guest Travel Classes. With a fresh new approach to service in the air and on the ground, Etihad seek to return a sense of freedom to flight.

As they say, "Welcome aboard for a refreshing experience. Be our Guest". We couldnt have put it better.

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