Cathay Pacific is World’s Best Airline 2009 award winner

Cathay Pacific Airways, the flag-carrier airline of Hong Kong, has won the World’s Best Airline award at the 2009 Skytrax Airline of the Year Awards.
Singapore Airlines, the national airline of Singapore, bagged the second place, while Asiana Airlines came third.

Skytrax, based in the United Kingdom, is conducts research for commercial airlines as well as international traveller surveys in order to find the best airline, cabin staff, airport, airline lounge, in-flight entertainment, on-board catering and many other aspects of air travel.

The annual Skytrax awards, which are highly regarded in the airline industry, are based on results of over 16 million air passengers conducted over 8 months, according Edward Plaisted, chief executive of Skytrax.

In a statement, Plaisted praised Cathay Pacific Airways – which has won the Skytrax award 3 times in the last 10 years – for its performance.

“A factor behind the Cathay Pacific’s win is clearly the consistency of product and service that the airline provides to its customers,” Skytrax’s chief executive said, adding that, “not only is Cathay Pacific satisfying its passengers on board flights but the ratings it achieved for its airport operations in Hong Kong also played a considerable part in this success.”

Malaysia Airlines, the flag-carrier airline of Malaysia, won the Skytrax award for the World’s Best Cabin Staff – the 6th time that the carrier was bagging this award in the past 10 years.

Singapore Airlines was awarded the prize for the World’s Best First Class; Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of Abu Dhabi, for the Best Business Class; and Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar, for the Best Economy Class.

Qatar Airways, based in Doha, Qatar, also has been named the Best Airline in the Middle East.

In the southern hemisphere, Skytrax named Qantas Airways, the national airline of Australia, as the Best Airline in Australasia.

The award for the Best Low-cost Airline in Australasia went to Jetstar, the low-cost subsidiary airline of Qantas Airways.

AirAsia, the low-fare airline based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the Best Low-Cost Airline Overall.

Thai Airways’ lounge in Bangkok, Thailand, is the Best First-class Lounge, followed by Qantas Airways’ first-class lounge at Sydney Airport in Australia.

Here is the full list of the 2009 Skytrax Airline of the Year Awards:

2009 Airline of the Year

1. Cathay Pacific Airways

2. Singapore Airlines

3. Asiana Airlines

4. Qatar Airways

5. Emirates

6. Qantas

7. Etihad Airways

8. Air New Zealand

9. Malaysia Airlines

10. Thai Airways
Best Cabin Staff

1. Malaysia Airlines

2. Asiana Airlines

3. Thai Airways

4. Singapore Airlines

5. Cathay Pacific
Best In-flight Entertainment

1. Emirates

2. Singapore Airlines

3. Virgin Atlantic

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Qatar Airways
Best First Class

1. Singapore Airlines

2. Emirates

3. Qatar Airways

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Thai Airways
Best Business Class

1. Etihad Airways

2. Singapore Airlines

3. Virgin Atlantic

4. British Airways

5. Air New Zealand

Best Economy Class

1. Qatar Airways

2. Asiana Airlines

3. Air New Zealand

4. Singapore Airlines

5. Malaysia Airlines