Canadian airlines typically don’t get no respect from many Canadians, as Rodney Dangerfield would say. But how do others see our airlines? Well, they’re not as bad as you might think, at least according to the Skytrax, which recently revealed its annual World Airlines Awards for 2024, otherwise known as the “Oscars of the aviation industry.” So, who are the best this year, and how did we (Canada) do? Read on, you’ll be surprised – and impressed.
Announced at a gala ceremony in London in late June, the big one – World’s Best Airline – went to Qatar Airways, the eighth time that the airline has scooped the Airline of the Year title in the 25-year history of the awards.
In addition to being named the World’s Best Airline 2024, Qatar Airways also scooped the top awards for the World’s Best Business Class, the World’s Best Business Class Lounge and the Best Airline in the Middle East.
The 2023 Airline of the Year winner, Singapore Airlines, was ranked No 2 in the world for 2024, with Emirates in third place, ANA All Nippon Airways fourth, and Cathay Pacific in fifth position, out of more than 350 airlines included in the survey results.
The World’s Top 20 Airlines in 2024
(*350 participating airlines)
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Japan Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- EVA Air
- Air France
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Korean Air
- Hainan Airlines
- British Airways
- Fiji Airways
- Iberia
- Vistara
- Virgin Atlantic
- Lufthansa
- Etihad Airways
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
But what about Canada? Air Canada scored the top ranking, at 29 (out of 350), while Air Transat, Porter and WestJet placed 57th, 59th, and 64th respectively.
(Ed. note: In 2023, Air Canada placed 38th globally, Transat-62, WestJet-64, Air Canada rouge-93, and Porter-99).
Notably, four Canadian carriers also placed in the top 10 in North America (see results below), including second-place Air Canada.
Canadian results
Canadian carriers were No. 1 in a number of categories, led by Air Transat, which was named the World’s Best Leisure Airline for the fifth consecutive year.
Air Canada
- Most Family Friendly Airline in North America
- Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering in North America
- Best Cabin Crew in Canada
- Cleanest Airline in North America
- Best Business Class Airline Lounge Catering (YYZ)
Air Transat
- World’s Best Leisure Airline
- Best Leisure Airline in North America
Porter Airlines
- Best Regional Airline in North America
- Most Improved Airline in North America
Other Canadian rankings (excluding above)
- North America Best Airline By Region – Air Canada (2), Porter (4), Air Transat (5), WestJet (7)
- North America Best Regional Airlines – WestJet (3)
- World’s Best Regional Airlines – Porter (8), WestJet (11)
- World’s Most Improved Airline – Porter (4)
- World’s Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airlines – Air Canada rouge (4th)
- World’s Best Inflight Entertainment – Air Canada (14)
- World’s Best Leisure Airline – Sunwing (8)
- World’s Best Business Class Lounge – Air Canada-YYZ (5)
- World’s Best Premium Economy – Air Canada (17)
- World’s Most Family-Friendly Airline – Air Canada (3)
Global perspective
- In North America, Delta Air Linesreceived awards as the Best Airline in North America, also collecting the top award for the Best Airline Staff Service for the region.
- Singapore Airlinestook top honours with the award for the World’s Best Cabin Staff and their First Class Suites continuing to dominate by winning the award as the World’s Best First Class. In one of the most competitive global regions for airline service standards, Singapore Airlines also scooped the accolade for the Best Airline in Asia.
- ANA All Nippon Airwaysachieves the No 4 global ranking, repeating earlier success by winning the award for the World’s Best Airport Services. ANA also won the award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Asia.
- Saudi Arabian Airlineswins the 2024 award as the World’s Most Improved Airline, ahead of STARLUX Airlines in 2nd place and PLAY in 3rd position. This award reflects an airline’s Quality improvement across the entire Awards programme, evaluating each airline’s change in the global rating, and their performance in different award categories.
- AirAsiawas the repeat winner of the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline award, a title it has won each year since 2010. Scoot received a top award as the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline.
- Spanish airline, Volotea, received the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe, a great achievement for such a competitive cost airline market. Transavia France was ranked No 2 in Europe, and Vueling in third place.
- The award for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline was won by British Airways. This award covers many aspects of the experience, including family seating policies, family check-in facilities, priority boarding, children’s meals, children’s amenities / toys / activity packs, child specific onboard entertainment, child luggage and policies for carrycot / pushchairs, and the standards of service assistance from ground staff and cabin crew during the family travel experience.
- Plaza Premiumreceived the award as the World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge operator, with its Plaza Premium Lounge at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport ranking top in 2024.
- Cathay Pacificreceived the award for the World’s Best Economy Class, with Japan Airlines winning the award for the World’s Best Premium Economy Class.
- The Best Regional Airline Awards are for full-service airlines that primarily operate domestic and/or International flights up to approx. 6 hours. Topping the global ratings as the World’s Best Regional Airline is the repeat winner Bangkok Airways, and for the eighth consecutive year has proven to be a true customer favourite.
- In the India/South Asia region, Vistara reigns supreme and was again named winner of the Best Airline in India/South Asia award, in addition to Best Airline Staff Service for the region.
- Fiji Airwayssecured the Best Airline in Australia/Pacific for the second time, and also won the award as the Best Airline Staff Service in Australia/Pacific.
- Allegiant Airreceived the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in North America for the first time, in what is a very competitive LCC market.
- Ethiopian Airlineshas won the Best Airline in Africa award for the sixth consecutive year, Turkish Airlines was the Best Airline in Europe, Hainan Airlines was named the Best Airline in China and airBaltic won the award as the Best Airline in Eastern Europe.
- Turkish Airlineswas also recognised for its very high catering standards with the Best Business Class Catering award.
- Air Francewas a multiple winner in 2024, with three awards for the World’s Best First-Class Catering, the Best First-Class Lounge Dining (CDG) and the Best Airline in Western Europe.
- Star Alliancecollected the award as the World’s Best Airline Alliance and also won the Best Airline Alliance Lounge award for its new Paris CDG Airport lounge.
About the awards
The World Airline Awards are wholly 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 determine the award winners.
All costs of the Survey and Awards event are paid by Skytrax, and airlines do not pay any entry or registration fee.
The online customer survey operated from September 2023 to May 2024. The customer survey is provided in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. Over 100 customer nationalities participated in the 2023/24 survey. Survey entries are screened to identify IP and user information, with all duplicate, suspect or ineligible entries deleted. More than 350 airlines are featured in the final Award results.