Best Airlines 2022

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Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site, conducted more than 14 million customer surveys in more than 100 countries between September 2021 to August 2022 to find out the world’s current favorite airline.
This year’s winner was no stranger to the podium. The newly crowned Qatar Airways has won the top prize a total of seven times since the awards were introduced in 1999. The Qatari flag-carrier also scooped up eight more gongs on Friday, including Best Business Class, Best Business Class Seat and Best Business Class Lounge Dining. That’s going to be a lot to bring back through hand luggage.

Just two months ago, the carrier took the No.1 slot in AirlineRatings.com’s ranking of the world’s best airlines.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, thanked his “incredible employees” for “their continued dedication and drive” and said that “to win these awards in the same year that we celebrate our 25th anniversary is even more rewarding.”

Shortly after receiving the award, he told CNN Travel the secret of the airline’s sustained success was: “Consistent service, consistent product, consistent attention to passengers and absolute dedication from everyone that works in the airline.”
The world's best airline for 2022 named© Provided by CNNA regular on "best of" lists, Emirates was No.3 in Skytrax's 2022 rankings. - Adam Scheck/AP
Singapore Airlines, the world’s new No. 2 carrier according to Skytrax’s survey, also won nine awards, including Best Cabin Staff, Best First Class, Best First Class Seat and Best First Class Catering.

Ryanair’s surprise

UAE flag-carrier Emirates was in third place, and was also awarded for Best Inflight Entertainment, Best Economy Class, Best Economy Class Catering and Best Premium Economy Class Seat.

Japan’s ANA (All Nippon Airways) came in at No.4 and was also named World’s Cleanest Airline: no mean feat when two years of Covid-19 have meant customers are particularly mindful of hygiene and cleanliness standards. It won four more awards besides, including Best Airport Services.

Australian airline Qantas came in fifth in the survey of more than 350 airlines, conducted in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese languages.

Delta Air Lines was the leading airline in the US, winning six region-specific awards categories, while Turkish Airlines was the top carrier in Europe, taking home four awards including the highly competitive Best Airline in Europe title.

In one of the biggest shake-ups of the day, Irish airline Ryanair – never afraid of courting controversy in its 37-year history – triumphed at the awards for the first time, claiming the crown for Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe. This success with customers must in large part be owed to it emerging this summer as one of the region’s more reliable airlines, canceling relatively few flights and even offering “rescue” flights in July and August to help people stranded by cancellations by their competitors.

Albertine Murasira, a flight attendant for RwandAir, which won best airline staff service in Africa, said the award would encourage the carrier to further raise standards.

As it’s an award for “best employees, this is a very big win for us,” she told CNN. “It’s going to encourage us to keep taking care of our passengers.”

Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO, said that while the awards celebrated the best of aviation, the industry was still tackling the strain of Covid, staffing shortages and fuel price surges caused by the conflict in Ukraine.

“All in all it’s not been the happiest times in many respects,” he told the ceremony audience.

Airlines do not pay any entry or registration fee to be eligible for the awards and all costs of the survey and awards event are paid for by Skytrax. For the full list of winners, visit the Skytrax site.

The world’s top 20 airlines in 2022, according to Skytrax (and my comments)

1. Qatar Airways (only tried once, a few years ago, do not remember much)

2. Singapore Airlines (always the GOLD standard in my experience)

3. Emirates (very good, but I felt out of place!)

4. ANA (All Nippon Airways) (the best flights to Japan, no question)

5. Qantas Airways (love the koalas, I think the airline is very average)

6. Japan Airlines (very good, always great service, lounges are exceptional)

7. Turkish Airlines (also very good, will try my first transatlantic next month)

8. Air France (typical French! But they serve champagne in all three classes)

9. Korean Air (very underrated, great service, impeccable flight attendants)

10. Swiss International Air Lines (expensive, not worth the $$)

11. British Airways (expensive, but perhaps worth it?)

12. Etihad Airways (never flown)

13. China Southern Airlines (not memorable)

14. Hainan Airlines (never flown)

15. Lufthansa (similar to our domestic carriers)

16. Cathay Pacific (should be rated much higher)

17. KLM (it has been decades since I flew on KLM)

18. EVA Air (similar to other China based airlines)

19. Virgin Atlantic (very good, but nothing to shout about)

20. Vistara (never heard of it)

Before Virgin was purchased by Alaska, I thought it was excellent for cross country flights. My friends use JSX? A private jet carrier with only 40 seats. They only sell a maximum of 30 for each flight. And the fare is about 150%!o(MISSING)f Southworst.



An Oxford professor has discovered a novel way to make plane food taste better - wearing noise-cancelling headphones. According to Charles Spence, professor of experimental psychology at Oxford University, low-pitched noises, such as the drone from a plane’s engines, can make food taste up to 10 per cent more bitter. Maybe I will try it, but I doubt that it really makes any difference.



Here are a few simple rules: If a route provides a choice between a domestic or foreign airline, I always choose foreign. And second, but most important, I use my miles to upgrade on any flight over the Atlantic or Pacific!!! Or take the train!

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Comments

[Dancing Dave]

Best Airlines 2022
Very interesting Gerry. However the effect of airlines cutting costs by outsourcing services due to lost revenue during Covid has resulted in massive delays, cancelled flights and missing baggage all over the World that makes foreign & domestic travel a lottery and the joy of flying a nervous pursuit.

[golfkat]

Airlines, Necessary Evil
My friend who travels the world avoid planes at all costs. She uses trains and boats!!!