Qantas takes a nosedive on the world's best airlines ranking: What happened?
- Replies 8
Many of us here at the SDC are keen travellers, and we know flying can be a hit-or-miss experience. But it's always nice to know that some airlines consistently put effort into making your journey as smooth as possible.
Each year, the Skytrax World Airline Awards take a deep dive into the world of air travel, revealing which airlines are going above and beyond. Unfortunately, this year's results brought a somewhat disheartening turn of events for Australia's national carrier, Qantas.
Qantas, regarded as one of the world's best airlines for many years, plummeted from its 5th-place ranking in 2022 to the 17th spot this year.
To add insult to injury, Qantas watched its title as the 'Best Airline in Australia / Pacific' slip through its fingers as Fiji Airways swooped in and captured the top honour this time.
Other Australian airlines, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, didn't fare too well either, with both sinking in the ranking as well. Jetstar slipped 12 spots, dropping from 57 to 69, while Virgin Australia only experienced a minor dip, from 43 to 46.
Despite the gloomy outlook for our major airlines, there was a silver lining for the regional airline REX. Climbing from 72nd to 56th place, it earned the prestigious title of 'Best Regional Airline in Australia / Pacific', giving Aussies something to cheer about.
Now, you might be wondering how all these rankings were determined. These results originated from a massive survey involving over 20 million travellers from more than 100 different nationalities. These surveys were conducted between September 2022 and May 2023, and any airline from across the globe could be nominated.
It's safe to say that the results truly reflect the opinions and experiences of travellers worldwide.
Singapore Airlines took the top honours for the fifth time in the 23-year history of the awards, showcasing their dedication to providing exceptional service to their passengers.
Singapore Airlines Chief Executive, Goh Choon Phong, expressed gratitude to their customers, who have remained loyal and supportive through the challenges faced by the airline industry during the pandemic.
Regarding Fiji Airways' victory in our regional Australia / Pacific category, their Chief Executive, André Viljoen, attributed the win to the 'Fijian spirit of hospitality and care', despite having fewer resources than larger airlines.
Qantas, however, believes that the survey's results don't entirely reflect their current standards.
Their spokesperson said: 'This survey started nine months ago when it was clear our service wasn't back to our best. A lot has changed since, and if you ran this survey today, the results would be very different. We've worked hard to improve, and the feedback from customers shows we are.'
So, while Qantas' recent ranking may shock some, it's important to remember that the airline industry has faced—and continues to face—turbulence like never before. The silver lining is that Australian airlines recognise where they may have fallen short and aim to improve by taking customer feedback seriously.
As travellers, we all value excellent service during our journeys. We sincerely wish to witness Qantas, and other Australian airlines climb higher in the rankings, reclaiming their position as industry frontrunners.
We extend our best wishes for safe skies and enjoyable travels to all our members! We're curious to hear your opinions on the rankings. Do you agree with the results? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Each year, the Skytrax World Airline Awards take a deep dive into the world of air travel, revealing which airlines are going above and beyond. Unfortunately, this year's results brought a somewhat disheartening turn of events for Australia's national carrier, Qantas.
Qantas, regarded as one of the world's best airlines for many years, plummeted from its 5th-place ranking in 2022 to the 17th spot this year.
To add insult to injury, Qantas watched its title as the 'Best Airline in Australia / Pacific' slip through its fingers as Fiji Airways swooped in and captured the top honour this time.
Other Australian airlines, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, didn't fare too well either, with both sinking in the ranking as well. Jetstar slipped 12 spots, dropping from 57 to 69, while Virgin Australia only experienced a minor dip, from 43 to 46.
Despite the gloomy outlook for our major airlines, there was a silver lining for the regional airline REX. Climbing from 72nd to 56th place, it earned the prestigious title of 'Best Regional Airline in Australia / Pacific', giving Aussies something to cheer about.
Now, you might be wondering how all these rankings were determined. These results originated from a massive survey involving over 20 million travellers from more than 100 different nationalities. These surveys were conducted between September 2022 and May 2023, and any airline from across the globe could be nominated.
It's safe to say that the results truly reflect the opinions and experiences of travellers worldwide.
Singapore Airlines took the top honours for the fifth time in the 23-year history of the awards, showcasing their dedication to providing exceptional service to their passengers.
Singapore Airlines Chief Executive, Goh Choon Phong, expressed gratitude to their customers, who have remained loyal and supportive through the challenges faced by the airline industry during the pandemic.
Regarding Fiji Airways' victory in our regional Australia / Pacific category, their Chief Executive, André Viljoen, attributed the win to the 'Fijian spirit of hospitality and care', despite having fewer resources than larger airlines.
Qantas, however, believes that the survey's results don't entirely reflect their current standards.
Their spokesperson said: 'This survey started nine months ago when it was clear our service wasn't back to our best. A lot has changed since, and if you ran this survey today, the results would be very different. We've worked hard to improve, and the feedback from customers shows we are.'
So, while Qantas' recent ranking may shock some, it's important to remember that the airline industry has faced—and continues to face—turbulence like never before. The silver lining is that Australian airlines recognise where they may have fallen short and aim to improve by taking customer feedback seriously.
Key Takeaways
- Qantas has plummeted 12 spots in the ranking of the world's best airlines, falling out of the top 10.
- The Australian airline also lost the title of 'Best Airline in Australia / Pacific' to Fiji Airways.
- The Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards were based on surveys of more than 20 million travellers from over 100 nationalities.
- Singapore Airlines was named the world's best airline for the fifth time in the 23-year history of the awards.
As travellers, we all value excellent service during our journeys. We sincerely wish to witness Qantas, and other Australian airlines climb higher in the rankings, reclaiming their position as industry frontrunners.
We extend our best wishes for safe skies and enjoyable travels to all our members! We're curious to hear your opinions on the rankings. Do you agree with the results? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!