The world’s best one-stop airline safety and product rating review website, AirlineRatings.com, has announced Qatar Airways as the Airline of the Year for 2021.
Qatar’s state-owned flag carrier, Qatar Airways is being honored for its multi-award-winning in-flight innovations, commitment to global travelers during COVID-19, operational safety, the pursuit of excellence and environmental leadership.
The Australia-based aviation specialist site’s Airline Excellence Awards, judged by global editors with over 100 years of industry experience, combines major safety and government audits, with 11 key criteria including customer reviews, product offerings, safety, fleet age, profitability and environmental leadership and COVID-19 compliance.
Commenting on the award, the Editor-in-Chief of AirlineRatings.com Mr. Geoffrey Thomas said, “In our objective analysis Qatar Airways came out number one in virtually all of our audit criteria, which is an exceptional performance.”
His Excellency Akbar Al Baker Group CEO Qatar Airways
“Receiving the Airline of the Year award for 2021 is particularly special for Qatar Airways. Over the past 16 months, we have witnessed some of the darkest days ever seen by the aviation industry. Yet, when so many other airlines stopped flying, Qatar Airways continued to operate and stand by our passengers.”
AirlineRatings.com also awarded Qatar the best Middle East airline, best catering and best business class. This year, the Doha-based airline beat out Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Qantas for the top award.
During the pandemic-driven crisis period, Qatar Airways has continued to fly to more than 140 destinations. In March, schedule analyzers OAG said Qatar Airways was the largest airline in the world by available seat kilometers (ASKs), with 2.6 billion of them that month. While many other airlines slashed their networks, Qatar added seven new destinations in the past 12 months.
Air New Zealand, a previous winner of Airline of the Year in 2020, picked up Best Premium Economy and Best Economy. Qantas won Best Domestic Airline Service, and Best Lounges while Singapore Airlines picked up Best First Class.
Virgin Australia won Best Cabin Crew while Best In-Flight Entertainment went to Emirates. Qantaslink won Best Regional Airline and VietJetAir took out Best Ultra Low-Cost airline.
Excellence in Long Haul travel award was given to United Airlines (Americas), Lufthansa (Europe), Qatar Airways (Middle-East/Africa), Singapore Airlines (Asia) and Air New Zealand (Pacific). The Best Low-Cost Airline title was shared by Southwest (Americas), easyjet (Europe), and Jetstar (Asia/Pacific).
