‘Oscars of the airline world’ names Qatar Airways best carrier

In the end, Qatar Airways took top honors, narrowly edging out last year’s winner Singapore Airlines. Qatar is a multi-time winner of the Skytrax Awards.

The rankings, which come from the U.K. firm, are based on surveys of over 21 million customers from 100 countries. And this year’s vote was so close it required a recount, Skytrax says.

North American airlines, though, have nothing to celebrate. No U.S. carrier made the top 10—or even the top 20.

Dubai’s Emirates airline came in third, while Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways took fourth. Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific was fifth. Japan Airlines placed sixth and Turkish Airlines took seventh. Taiwan’s EVA Air ranked number eight; Air France was ninth; and Swiss International Airlines came in 10th.

In individual categories, Cathay Pacific took the title of world’s cleanest airline. Singapore Airlines got the nod for best cabin crew. Qatar topped the world’s best business class. And Cathay Pacific got best economy class.

Delta Air Lines was declared the best airline in North America. It also got an award for best airline staff Service in the region. Alaska Airlines was named the world’s ninth-best regional carrier.

Here’s a look at the world’s top 20 airlines:

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Cathay Pacific
6. Japan Airlines
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Air France
10. Swiss International Air Lines
11. Korean Air
12. Hainan Airlines
13. British Airways
14. Fiji Airways
15. Iberia
16. Vistara
17. Virgin Atlantic
18. Lufthansa
19. Etihad Airways
20. Saudi Arabian Airlines