World's best airlines in 2022: Qatar still in first place, ITA Airways is 98th!
Like every year, the Skytrax rankings arrived on time, the awards ceremony returned, after two years, in [...]
- Vistara
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Virgin Atlantic
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Turkish Airlines
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Thai Airways
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Swiss
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Southwest Airlines
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Singapore Airlines
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Saudia
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Qatar Airways
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Qantas
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Lufthansa
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Korean Air
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KLM
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JetBlue
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Japan Airlines
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ITA Airways
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Finnair
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EVA Air
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Etihad Airways
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Emirates
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Delta
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China Southern Airlines
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Cathay Pacific
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British Airways
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American Airlines
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All Nippon Airways (ANA)
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Air New Zealand
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Air France
Like every year, they arrived on time Skytrax rankings, the awards ceremony is back, after two years, in physical shape at the historic Langham Hotel London, United Kingdom.
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This ranking, since 1999, is considered the equivalent of the "Oscars of the aviation industry," Skytrax bears all the costs of the surveys, which are totally independent and unbiased.
2022 was the year of the restart and, as we all know, it did not run smoothly, not to mention that part of the world only opened up toward summer and destinations such as Japan and China are still isolated (or nearly so) from the rest of the world.
In this scenario there are some confirmations, for example in the top 20 companies in the world there are no American carriers and the first two positions are unchanged from last year. Other results, however, leave me very puzzled and wondering who was interviewed to give certain results.
Things that convince me little about this ranking
First of all definitely the positioning of ITA Airways: ranks 98th of the classic ahead of only Level, a French low-cost airline, and Buta Airways, a low-cost airline from Azerbaijan. Meagre consolation when we think that in 2021 Alitalia was not even in the top 100.
This is despite the fact that the carrier has launched its new flagship e Summer has passed without serious inconvenience when compared to that of British, Lufthansa, and KLM (thousands of canceled flights, lost luggage, and inconveniences in and out of airports).
It is also noteworthy that Ryanair occupies the 40th place, with an improvement of 17 positions over 2021, even Wizz Air and Air Serbia, are ahead of our national airline.
But it is not only ITA that is surprising as a ranking position. In the top20, I am also surprised by the placement of Chinese carriers such as China Southern and Hainan. Since they have hardly flown out of China, it is obvious that the votes can only come from the domestic market, but to think that China Southern is 6 positions ahead of Virgin Atlantic some doubt leaves it.
Qantas' fifth position must also be a result of past history and not of 2022 performance, since intercontinental connections only resumed this summer and traffic in the past two years has been almost exclusively domestic.
Who stays out of the top 20
The most striking figure concerns American companies, all outside the top 20: Delta is 24th, Jetblue 41st, Southwest 39th. The other two sisters United and American are even further behind, at 60th and 68th respectively.
Finnair, despite having submitted the revolutionary new business class cabin, stops in 21st place. Saudia, despite Jeddah's new airport, even slips to 34th place.
Among the companies that have "crashed" in 2022 is Thai, which lost 23 positions and is 46th today. While Gulf Air jumped forward 22 positions. And today he is just outside the top20.
Who dropped out of the top 20
20th to 30th place for Air New Zealand. Result that amazes me for the service on the ground and on board the aircraft, but is absolutely adequate for The lousy business class cabin offered by the carrier.
In 23rd place is Bangkok Airways., the carrier that connects all major destinations in Thailand and was 19th last year. Also dropping out of the top 20 is Garuda Indonesia, which rises from 15th to 31st place.
The new top 20
In 20th place is Vistara, an Indian carrier that competes with Air India to meet travel demands to and from India.
19th position for Virgin Atlantic, Who was outside the top20 last year. The British carrier certainly pays for its presence in very few markets, in Europe flies only from London, and non-participation in any sky alliance.
EVA Air loses 10 positions and drops from 7th place to 17th, due in part to Taiwan's border closures and strict measures that have reduced the Asian carrier's network.
It loses (only) one position KLM, which falls to 16th place. Despite the chaos at Amsterdam airport, canceled flights, tens of thousands of lost bags, and calls not to board or carry suitcases on board. Against this disastrous backdrop, the Dutch carrier manages to remain firmly among the world's top 20 airlines.
Minus 10 positions also for Cathay Pacific, which is 16th. Hong Kong's borders, which only now seem to be beginning to reopen, knocked one of the world's best companies out of the top10 before the pandemic, now we'll see if it can recover.
Summer also to forget for Lufthansa, which drops to 15th place. Strikes, staff absence, thousands of preemptively canceled flights have dented the image of the German group.
Surprising result for Hainan and China Southern, 14th and 13th best airline in the world, respectively. With China's closed borders and Hainan's financial difficulties, this ranking is incredible.
Etihad, which placed 12th, also returns to the top20. After the crisis, fleet reduction and elimination of loss-making partnerships (see Alitalia), now the UAE's national airline is smaller but more efficient.
11th position for British Airways. Probably, without the chaos at Heathrow, she would have entered the top10, a date perhaps only postponed until next year.
Swiss jumps up 8 positions and is 10th this year. The carrier has certainly suffered less from parent company Lufthansa's problems, partly because the wet-lease with Air Baltic has reduced cancellations and inconvenience for travelers. But above all, the A220 fleet is a guarantee for short to medium haul.
With the borders reopened, he also returns to the top positions. Korean Air re-entering the top10 and coming in ninth place.
Eighth place for Air France. The transalpine carrier did not suffer in Paris the pains of hell suffered by KLM in Amsterdam, but even in the Ville Lumiere it was not an easy summer. In any case a company that offers a cabin like La Premiere cannot but be among the best in the world.
Turkish Airlines is 7th and is the vector that records the best leap forward of the entire top20. It certainly rewards the fact that it was among the companies that best supported travel during the pandemic and, of course, also the full entry of the Istanbul's new and beautiful airport.
JAL, the second Japanese company, occupies the sixth place. By being able to transit Japanese ports of call, companies have been able to continue to Carrying passengers via Tokyo.
Fifth place for Qantas, which with the summer got off to a great start by also opening the direct route to Rome and announcing the order for the New A350s capable of flying, nonstop, from Sydney to London and New York City.
Fourth place, one less than in 2021, for All Nippon Airlines, Japan's largest carrier. And now that Japan's borders are open again, a climb back up the podium is to be expected.
Bottom step of the podium for Emirates, which re-enters the top3 by undermining ANA. The Dubai-based carrier took advantage of Expo and the novelty of premium economy to take back its position and aim for the unprecedented top spot in this ranking.
Singapore Airlines remains in second place, after ceding the scepter to Qatar. With Asia almost (completely) reopened, a fight for the top position next year is to be expected. The company also won the award for best in-flight service.
A380 Qatar
The best airline in the world is, for the seventh year, Qatar Airways. Not just for Qsuite, but for the top experience during all phases. And with the World Cup this winter, the carrier will be even more focused on providing, in all classes, the best possible service on the ground and in the air.
Qatar Airways Group CEO, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker , said, "Being named as the best airline in the world has always been a goal since Qatar Airways was created, but winning it for the seventh time and receiving three additional awards is a testament to all the hard work of our incredible employees. Their continued dedication and determination allows us to ensure our passengers have the best possible experience when they fly Qatar Airways. Winning these awards in the same year that we celebrate our 25th anniversary is even more gratifying. I want to express my sincere thanks to all our passengers who voted for us. Their support leads us to greater and greater achievements every day, we appreciate their loyalty and aim to create memories of a lifetime when they fly with Qatar Airways."
