Skytrax Awards: why Etihad, Japan Airlines and Lufthansa are the three big disappointments at the Paris show

Looking at the awards given by Skytrax at the World Airlines Awards, at least three major disappointments can be identified from the event held during the Paris Air Show: Etihad Airways, Japan Airlines and Lufthansa.

In the case of the Abu Dhabi carrier, we are talking about. a company that boasts the most exclusive product in the entire airline industry: The Residence. In addition to a first class, on the Superjumbos, which is just below that of Singapore Airlines As for space and privacy.

And that is increasing its fleet of Airbus A350-1000s on which it mounts 44 business suites equipped with door. As well as one of the few companies that still deploys a First on three types of machines: in addition to the A380, also on some Boeing 777-300ERs and 787-9s.

Yet in Skytrax's top 100, Etihad finished only 26th. That is, a full seven positions behind the 19th place achieved in 2024 and far behind the other two 'Gulf sisters,' Qatar Airways (which has once again established itself as the 'best company in the world') and Emirates, who brought home a fourth place finish.

As for Japan Airlines, did not see the recognition of the 'effort' made in terms of 'hard' product on its Airbus A350-1000 fleet, where it boasts four classes that for luxury and privacy (in the case of First and Business) and personal space (in the case of Premium Economy and Economy) have few equals in the world.

Now, ninth place among the world's best companies means staying in the top 10. But the comparison with the sixth place achieved in 2024 is a real collapse.

And we come to Lufthansa. The German airline in the past year has introduced new Allegris cabins on its A350-900s, but it has a big problem called Boeing. A few months ago its CEO openly attacked the U.S. manufacturer, saying that the company should have already had 41 new Boeing aircraft in its fleet that never arrived, including 777-9s and Boeing 787-9s.

The latter are now there, but they are stuck in the U.S. because. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet certified the new 'Allegris' business class fitted on Dreamliners. And here we come to the point: Allegris is definitely a high-end product, but it is extremely unconventional in terms of space and seating, so much so that it has created some nice headaches so far in terms of certification procedures. And as many will be created in the future when it is installed on Boeing 747-8s and 777-9s.

In short, the German carrier is a sure victim of Boeing, but it can be said to have put its own spin on it, to be forced to keep in service for several more months the A340-300 and A340-600, airplanes that enthusiasts love for the four engines they mount, but which offer a decidedly old-fashioned and outdated on-board product.

For this (while being awarded Europe's 'most family friendly' company award), was relegated to 15th place in the world (and fifth, among European airlines behind Turkish, Air France, Swiss, and British) in Skytrax's rankings, while making a leap forward from 18th position in 2024 precisely because of the introduction of Allegris on some of its machines.

Admittedly, the days when the German carrier was awarded 5 Skytrax Stars (2017-2022) and was firmly in the Skytrax global top 10 (2016-2019) seem long gone. But the future, with the entry into service of the 787-9 and 777-9 'Allegris' and the installation of the new cabins on the rest of the A350 fleet as well as the 747-8 and A380, can only hold good things in store for it, also in terms of ratings.

• Paris Air Show 2025
• Skytrax