World's best airline named as Qantas climbs back from low point
It's the ninth time the Middle Eastern carrier, which took a 25 per cent stake in Virgin earlier this year, has taken out the award.
Qatar Airways also won world's best business class at the awards. Singapore Airlines came second in the rankings, followed by Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, Dubai's Emirates and Japan's All Nippon Airways.
Meanwhile, Qantas surged 10 places to be named the world's 14th best airline, up from its low point in 2024 where it fell to 24th place. It's still a far cry from its previous highs – the airline was rated in the top five as recently as 2022.
Its decline followed the early departure of long-term chief executive Alan Joyce in 2023 to make way for chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson and a series of scandals including illegally sacking staff, selling fares for flights that had already been cancelled and criticisms over the availability of rewards seats for Frequent Flyer members.
Virgin Australia also had better results this year, climbing from 43rd to 34th place. Jetstar, however, continued to slide, with its rating dropping from 75th last year to 88th in this year's top 100.
Qatar Airways win comes just after Virgin Australian relaunched long-haul international routes using 'wet leased' Qatar Airways planes and crew. The first Virgin Australia wet-least flight departed from Sydney to Doha on Thursday last week.
Qantas won eight awards at the event – announced on Tuesday at the Paris Air Show's Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (Museum of Air and Space) – but all were regional awards for Australia/Pacific-based airlines. Its wins included best business class, best economy class, best premium economy, best catering in both business and economy, and best cabin crew.
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