easyJet voted best low cost airline in world

[August 13th 2008]

easyJet has been named the world’s best low cost airline and Singapore Airlines the world’s best airline in the annual World Airline Awards.

The awards are based on the world’s largest passenger survey, involving 15 million passengers over an 11 month period and are organised by Skytrax, which operates the Airline Star Ranking and Quality Certified Airline programmes.

Commenting on easyJet’s award, Skytrax CEO, Edward Plaisted, says: "As we have stated in earlier years, low-cost does not need to, nor should it equate to, low-quality service, and easyJet is clear testament that low-cost operations can be delivered with a good standard of customer care and passenger service quality - with their level of customer loyalty clearly demonstrating a winning formula".

No other UK based airline got a place in the best low cost airline top 10. Virgin Blue was in second place, followed by 2007 winner Jetstar Airways in third, Air Berlin in fourth, and Southwest Airlines in fifth. In the best low cost airline in Europe category, Air Berlin was second behind easyJet, with SkyEurope Airlines third.

As well as world’s best airline, Singapore Airlines was also awarded best business class. Second best airline in the world was named at Cathay Pacific, which also won best first class. Third was Qantas, followed by Thai Airways and Asiana Airlines of Korea. No UK based airline featured in the top 10.

Virgin Atlantic did however win best business class lounge, repeating the success it achieved in 2007 for its Clubhouse airport lounge at Heathrow. The best first class lounge award went to Qantas for its first class facilities at Sydney airport. “The lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a 5 star hotel or restaurant,” comments Plaisted.

Dubai based Emirates Airline, placed ninth overall, won best airline inflight entertainment for the fourth year in a row. Airline food may get a bad press, but the best airline catering was also recognised in the awards. Cathay Pacific won best first class onboard catering, Austrian Airlines best business class onboard catering, and Qantas best economy class onboard catering.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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