Qatar Airways has been announced as the ‘Airline of the Year by the international air transport rating organization, Skytrax, in addition to securing five additional awards including World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge, World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat, World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering and Best Airline in the Middle East.
The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry has now won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and now 2021).
Known as the Oscars of the Aviation Industry, the 2021 Skytrax awards covered the period from September 2019 to July 2021 with the results reflecting a mix of more normal travel times combined with travel during the pandemic.
The extended period clearly demonstrated the resilience and flexibility of Qatar Airways, as it not only delivered continued excellence during normal times, but steadfastly continued flights and offered a lifeline to its customers across the globe during the most challenging of times.
Qatar Airways also became the first global airline to receive the Skytrax COVID-19 Safety Rating in January 2021 while its home and hub, Hamad International Airport, was recently voted the World’s Best Airport 2021 in August.
In addition, the airline also received recognition for its luxurious Al Mourjan Lounge, a calming oasis for travellers, which was voted the World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge. Meanwhile, the patented Qsuite remains the clear leader in business class luxury having being named as the World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat, with the premium cabin being voted World’s Best Business Class for the fifth year in succession.
The continued evolution of the food offering on board was also recognised as Qatar Airways scooped the World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering award, a fitting tribute to the ongoing development and enhancement of the food and beverage product.
Finally, the airline was also announced as Best Airline in the Middle East, further emphasising passengers’ preference for Qatar Airways in the region due to its exceptional quality, global network, consistent reliability, and flexibility, with every passenger journey experiencing Hamad International Airport, the only Skytrax five-star airport in the region.
Qatar Airways has placed even greater emphasis on the passenger experience and biosafety during the pandemic to enhance service levels and provide reassurance to travellers. The consistent pursuit of innovation was reflected by the introduction of a new Business Class Suite on the Boeing 787-9 fleet, UV cleaning between flights, and touch-free inflight entertainment technology while industry-leading flexible rebooking options demonstrated the airline’s commitment to going above and beyond at every opportunity.
The full list of awards won by Qatar Airways at the 2021 World Airline Awards by Skytrax are:
- Airline of the Year
- World’s Best Business Class
- World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge
- World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat
- World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering
- Best Airline in the Middle East
The Skytrax World Airline Awards are independent and impartial, introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that was truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners.
The World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2021
| Rank | Airline Name |
| 1 | Qatar Airways |
| 2 | Singapore Airlines |
| 3 | ANA All Nippon Airways |
| 4 | Emirates |
| 5 | Japan Airlines |
| 6 | Cathay Pacific Airways |
| 7 | EVA Air |
| 8 | Qantas Airways |
| 9 | Hainan Airlines |
| 10 | Air France |
