Last year was tough for the aviation industry. But with leisure travel slowly picking up in some parts of the world, commercial airlines have adapted to the complex travel situation by putting safety measures in place. To acknowledge the top contenders, airline safety website AirlineRatings.com has revealed its ranking of the “World’s Best Airlines for 2021.” This list highlights the innovation of airlines and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Knocking off Air New Zealand from the top spot, Qatar Airways came in first place and clinched the awards for Best Business Class and Best Catering. In addition, this marks the third year in a row that the Doha-based carrier has won the Best Business Class distinction.
By keeping repatriation flights open and implementing a hygiene program that ensures safe travels, Qatar Airways was also praised for its “commitment to keeping the world’s critical long-haul air routes open during COVID-19,” according to AirlineRatings.com.
Determined by industry professionals with over 100 years of experience in the aviation field, the Airline Excellence Awards considers the following safety criteria: passenger reviews, investment rating, product offerings, fleet age, staff relations, government audits, and incident reports, among others. Check out the best airlines in the world for 2021 below.
Top 20 airlines in the world for 2021
1. Qatar Airways
2. Air New Zealand
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Qantas
5. Emirates
6. Cathay Pacific
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. United Airlines
9. EVA Air
10. British Airways
11. Lufthansa
12. ANA, or All Nippon Airways
13. Finnair
14. Japan Airlines
15. KLM
16. Hawaiian Airlines
17. Alaska Airlines
18. Virgin Australia
19. Delta Air Lines
20. Etihad Airways
Also read: Qantas Tops The List of World’s Safest Airlines for 2021
For travellers who are planning to fly overseas soon, AirlineRatings.com’s ranking of the world’s best airlines could serve as a useful reference. In any case, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that our travel plans happen much sooner than expected this year.