Under The Angsana Tree: World's Best Airline 2019

Update 8 Apr 2020: SIA Plans To Raise Up To S$15B From Existing Investors To Regain Its Wings Amid COVID-19

Troubled by deepening impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak, Singapore Airlines (SIA) is just at the beginning of a heavy blow. The national carrier has suffered a 95 per cent reduction in capacity so far, which severely puts a dent in revenue, while it still has to continue incurring fixed costs like manpower and parking charges. On Monday, SIA CEO Goh Choon Pong increased the company’s cost-cutting measures, including implementing no-pay leave for staff and larger pay-cuts for management, affecting about 10,000 employees in total.

Today, the airline said it will be raising up to S$15 billion from existing investors through the sale of shares and convertible bonds, to tide through the shock from the coronavirus. This comes as SIA’s shares fell to their lowest in 22 years. The firm, on Thursday morning, halted trading before revealing this announcement. SIA will issue up to 1.77 billion new shares to existing shareholders at S$3 per share. On the basis of three rights shares for every two existing shares held by shareholders, it expects to raise S$5.3 billion. This is about a 54 per cent discount from SIA’s last traded share price of S$6.50.

Another S$9.7 billion will come from issuing mandatory 10-year convertible bonds at $1 each, on the basis of 295 bonds for every 100 existing shares owned. In the meantime, SIA has also arranged for a S$4 billion bridge loan facility with DBS. This fundraising is being underwritten by Temasek Holdings, SIA’s largest investor which owns about 55 per cent of its shares.

related: Changi Airport's Terminal 2 To Suspend Operations For 18 Mths From May 1

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SINGAPORE AIRLINES DETHRONED AS WORLD’S BEST AIRLINE

Singapore Airlines just lost its “best in the world” title, with the number one spot in the prestigious Global Skytrax Rankings (the Oscars of the aviation industry) going this year to Qatar Airways.

Qatar were also awarded World’s Best Business Class (a title they’ve won every year since 2016), and Best Airline in the Middle East.

Singapore Airlines dropped to second place (which, considering the number of cashed-up competitors nipping at their heels, isn’t too bad an effort), while Japanese airline ANA All Nippon Airways came third.

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Qatar Airways Wins 2019 Airline Of The Year Award

Today Skytrax published their annual ratings, where airlines are awarded titles ranging from world’s best airline to world’s best cabin staff, to world’s best business class.The most prestigious award is the world’s best airline award, and that’s going to Qatar Airways for 2019.

This is the fifth time that Qatar Airways is winning this award. For context on what other airlines won the awards over the years:

Qatar Airways won this award in 2019, 2017, 2015, 2012, and 2011
Singapore Airlines won this award in 2018
Emirates won this award in 2016 and 2013
Cathay Pacific won this award in 2014

You can find the full listing of 2019 awards on this page. In addition to winning the world’s best airline award, Qatar Airways also won the award for world’s best business class, world’s best business class seat, and best airline in the Middle East.

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This is the No. 1 airline in the world, according to 21 million survey responses

Qatar Airways, the flagship carrier for the Middle Eastern country, is the best airline in the world, according to Skytrax, a company that has been rating the world’s best airlines since 1999.

Qatar Airways is the only airline to top the list five times, (in 2019, 2017, 2015, 2012, and 2011) according to Skytrax.

For Skytrax’s annual global passenger satisfaction survey, customers nominate an airline and rank their satisfaction (on a scale of 1 to 5) in categories including cabin service (like staff attitudes, boarding assistance and meal service efficiency); ground and airport experience (like check in, pre-boarding procedures and airport staff); and onboard experience (like seat comfort, cabin comfort and amenities and quality of meals). Over 300 airlines were included in the final results, and there were 21.65 million eligible survey entries counted in the final result, according to the website.

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Qatar Airways is voted the World’s Best Airline for the fifth time at the 2019 World Airline Awards

Airline leaders and top airline management from across the globe today attended the 2019 World Airline Awards held at Paris Air Show to receive their accolades voted for by customers.

Qatar Airways scooped the top award being named the World’s Best Airline, together with awards for the World’s Best Business Class, the World’s Best Business Class Seat and the Best Airline in the Middle East.

Singapore Airlines won a top accolade as the World’s Best Cabin Crew, and was also honoured with awards for the World’s Best First Class, the Best Airline in Asia and the World’s Best First Class Seat.

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Can Singapore Airlines overtake Qatar Airways as world's best airline?

For SIA, it is not easy staying at the top, as other airlines are catching up fast, says the author

Qatar Airways took top spot in the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards ranking, switching places with last year's winner, Singapore Airlines (SIA).

In an annual exercise which does not see significant movement among the ranks, the close rivalry between the two airlines for the top honour seems to be the only exciting news. Eight out of the last 10 years since 2010, SIA ranked one position behind Qatar.

The exceptions were in 2010 when SIA was second and Qatar third, and in 2018, when SIA was named the world's best airline.

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Singapore Airlines voted second best airline in the world behind Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has beaten Singapore Airlines (SIA) to the title of best airline in the world this year, at the 2019 World Airline Awards in Paris on Tuesday (June 18).

Last year, SIA clinched the top honour while Qatar was second. This year, the positions have switched.

With this latest award, Qatar Airways has also become the first airline to have been named the world’s best five times.

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Move over, Singapore Girl? Singapore Airlines bumped off number one spot as best airline by Qatar Airways

The middle eastern airline is the only carrier to have won the award five times in 10 years, it ranked number two last year behind Singapore

Move over, Singapore Girl? Qatar Airways (QTR) has taken over the number one spot as the best airline for 2019, according to Skytrax. It’s not the first time the Middle Eastern carrier has done so either, having ranked number one five times in the last decade—in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

In fact, QTR is the only carrier to have won the award five times in 10 years. It ranked number two last year when SIA took the top spot.

For 2019, QTR is also Skytrax’s winner in the World’s Best Business Class, Best Business Class seat and Best Airline in the Middle East categories.

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Singapore Airlines slips to second best, Cathay Pacific up to fourth in Skytrax World Airline Awards

A Singapore Airlines plane takes off at Changi Airport. The airline was eclipsed by Qatar Airways for the title of World’s Best Airline in the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards, but came away with four accolades, including World’s Best Cabin Crew and World’s Best First Class. Photo: Reuters

What’s the world’s best airline? According to the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards, revealed at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, it’s Qatar Airways. This is the fifth time (in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019) the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar has earned top spot in the prestigious awards. Last year’s winner, Singapore Airlines, slipped to second. AirAsia was named World’s Best Low-Cost Airline.

In an almost flawless night for Qatar Airways, the Middle Eastern carrier also scooped the awards for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat, and Best Airline in the Middle East.

“To be named as the World’s Best Airline is a great recognition of Qatar Airways’ high standards,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, an organisation that describes itself as a specialist research and quality adviser to the air transport industry. “To achieve this accolade for a fifth time is a remarkable achievement, and we congratulate them for this unique success.”

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Singapore Airlines drops from top spot in global Skytrax awards

Known as the Oscars of the aviation world, the World Airline Awards are handed out annually by Skytrax, the leading global authority on airline and airport service quality

Singapore Airlines has lost its “Best in the World” gong with Qatar Airways back on top after nabbing the coveted title at the prestigious 2019 Skytrax Awards.

Qatar also walked away with World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East. It’s the fifth time the Middle East carrier has taken out the top gong at the awards, after losing the top spot in 2018 to Singapore.

Singapore Airlines slipped into second place, while Japanese airline ANA All Nippon Airways received the bronze medal.

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Qatar Airways just beat SIA to become the world’s best airline

The 2019 Skytrax Awards ranked the top three airlines in the world as Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways respectively. Facebook/Qatar Airways
Singapore’s national carrier has been dethroned as the king of the skies, after the world’s best airline crown went to Qatar Airways at this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards.

The awards, which are now in their 19th year, are considered the Oscars of the aviation industry. They are decided by a customer satisfaction ranking, which surveyed over 21.6 million travellers across 100 nationalities between 2018 and 2019.

Skytrax said that the survey, which is available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, had seen a “substantial increase” in the number of Chinese and Spanish surveys completed.

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Singapore Airlines drops one spot to second place on World’s Best Airlines list for 2019

Qatar Airways is flying high this year, having knocked Singapore Airlines off its top perch to take the honor of being the world’s best airline for 2019. This marks its fifth time receiving the accolade from research firm Skytrax after winning in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019 — and it’s the first one to do so ever since the rankings debuted in 1999. The carrier also picked up awards for World’s Best Business Class and Best Airline in the Middle East.

In the top 10, dominated as usual by Asian and Middle Eastern airlines, Singapore Airlines dropped a notch to runner-up, while Japan’s All Nippon Airways stayed in third place. Cathay Pacific Airways rose two notches to take fourth position, and Emirates fell one spot to fifth place, followed by Eva Air, Hainan Airlines, Qantas Airways, Lufthansa, and Thai Airways.

At the bottom of the barrel, the last five spots on the top 100 list went to S7 Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Flynas, Air China, and Icelandair.

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Singapore Airlines beaten to world's best airline award by Qatar Airways

While Singapore Airlines missed out on being named best airline, it won several key awards including best cabin crew, best first class, best airline in Asia, and best first-class seat. PHOTO: ST FILE

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been beaten to the world's best airline title by Qatar Airways.

The Gulf carrier reclaimed the top spot - which it ceded to SIA in last year's edition - at the 2019 World Airline Awards in Paris on Tuesday (June 18).

While SIA missed out on being named best airline, it won several key awards including best cabin crew, best first class, best airline in Asia, and best first-class seat.

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Singapore Airlines drops from top spot in global Skytrax awards

Singapore Airlines has lost its “Best in the World” gong with Qatar Airways back on top after nabbing the coveted title at the prestigious 2019 Skytrax Awards.

Qatar also walked away with World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East. It’s the fifth time (in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019) the Middle East carrier has taken out the top gong at the awards, after losing the top spot in 2018 to Singapore.

Singapore Airlines slipped into second place, while Japanese airline ANA All Nippon Airways received the bronze medal.

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These are the world's best airlines in 2019

The awards began in 1999 as a way to deliver an independent, impartial, and global assessment of the world’s airlines. There is no entrance fee, subscriptions, or any type of payment by an airline to be considered for the awards. The 2019 awards are a result of 21.65 million survey responses from customers from over 100 nationalities.

The awards cover a variety of categories, listed here with the 2019 winners:

World’s Best Cabin Crew: Singapore Airlines
World’s Best Business Class: Qatar Airways
World’s Best Economy Class: Japan Airlines
World’s Best Regional Airline: Bangkok Airways
World’s Cleanest Aircraft Cabin: EVA Air
World’s Most Improved Airline: Philippine Airlines

This year’s big award for World’s Best Airline saw Qatar Airways dethrone Singapore Airways for the number one spot. Singapore came in at number two, followed by ANA in third place.

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The 20 best airlines in the world for 2019

The aviation research firm Skytrax announced its 2019 ranking of the best airlines in the world on Tuesday.

Qatar Airways landed in the top spot, knocking last year’s winner, Singapore Airlines, to second-place.

American carriers again struggled to break into the top-ten rankings this year. No US-based airlines made it into any of the top 35 spots year. The top-ranked US carrier, JetBlue, pulled in at No. 40.

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Revealed: The world's best airlines for 2019

Number one? It's not BA

Qatar Airways has scooped the top prize at the annual World Airline Awards, dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry”, regaining a title it last held in 2017.

The Middle Eastern carrier pipped Singapore Airlines - last year’s winner - to the gong, with Japan’s All Nippon Airways completing the podium.

Only one European airline - Lufthansa - made the top 10, while the highest rated North American carrier was Air Canada, in 31st.

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This Is the Best Airline in the World

When it comes to flying, the term “enjoyable” doesn’t quite come to mind. Manageable, maybe. Necessary evil, perhaps. But there may be one airline in the world better described by that first term: Qatar Airways.

According to Skytrax,, the company that announces the World Airline Awards every year, the Middle Eastern airline is the global best. What put it there? Impeccable service, a variety of destinations (it flies to over 160 cities worldwide) and a phenomenal business class.

In business class, guests are treated with spa products from Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, including lip balm, moisturizer, and face mist. And when it's time to fall asleep on those long haul flights, you can wrap yourself in a sleeper suit and slippers from London leisure and linen brand, The White Company. LED lights pulsate above to help you beat the jet lag.

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World's best airlines for 2019 revealed by Skytrax

The results are in -- Qatar Airways is back on top with flying colors, nabbing the top spot at the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards

Last year, the Gulf carrier was pipped to the post by Singapore Airlines, but now Qatar Airways is celebrating its fifth time grabbing the prestigious accolade -- having previously won in 2017, 2015, 2012 and 2011.

Qatar Airways also won World's Best Business Class, World's Best Business Class Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East.

Singapore Airlines -- the carrier known for running the world's longest flight -- took second place but also won key awards including World's Best Cabin Crew, World's Best First Class, Best Airline in Asia and World's Best First Class Seat.

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AirAsia wins world’s best low-cost airline award for 11th year running

AirAsia has bagged the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for the 11th consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2019.

The low-cost carrier was also named Asia’s Best Low-Cost Airline and the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Cabin for its Premium Flatbed, available on widebody long-haul AirAsia X aircraft.

AirAsia Group Bhd executive chairman Kamarudin Meranum said it was an honour to be recognised by Skytrax for 11 years in a row for the airlines’ commitment to providing affordable travel and guest-obsessed service.

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In 1980, Lee Kuan Yew told SIA pilots’ union he was prepared to ground airline & start over

Lee Kuan Yew versus the SIA Strikers

Back in 1980, Singapore Airlines (SIA) hit a pretty rough patch and its reputation took a bad hit.

Profits were down for the airline, it had a dispute with its pilots’ union, and it was accused of shoddy treatment of its passengers affected by a strike by Australian refuellers.

Nothing seemed to be going right for SIA.

Spate of Scoot 'flight disruptions'

A Scoot Airbus A320neo. (File photo: Aibus/A. Doumenjou/Master Films)

Low-cost carrier Scoot is aware of its shortcomings and is working to improve its customer service and recovery standards in light of recent flight delays and disruptions that have affected passengers, said its CEO Lee Lik Hsin.

Speaking to CNA on Monday (Jun 17), he admitted that the flight disruptions had hit the airline's key On-Time Performance (OTP) metric.

“Admittedly, our OTP was not good from end-2018 to beginning of 2019. In December and January, we had occasions or months where OTP was in the 70s (in percentage terms) to low 80s. But we have bounced back up to mid-to-high 80s. In terms of delivering our promise to the customer of punctuality, we have improved since then,” added Mr Lee.

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WORLD’S BEST AIRLINES FOR 2019

Singapore Airlines has announced the dates of the world's longest flight

The world’s best airlines for 2019 have been named by AirlineRatings.com, the world’s only safety and product rating website, and the airline of the year is Singapore Airlines.

Singapore just nudged out Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways and Qatar Airways.

AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas commented: “In our objective analysis Singapore Airlines came out number one in many of our audit criteria, which is a great performance.”

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The World's Best Airlines of 2019

Top 10 Airlines of 2019:

1. Qatar Airways

2. Singapore Airlines

3. ANA All Nippon Airways

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Emirates

6. EVA Air

7. Hainan Airlines

8. Qantas Airways

9. Lufthansa

10. Thai Airways

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