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The World's Best International Airlines 2012
10- Malaysia Airlines
Fleet size: 84
Hub: Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Airlines breaks back into the top 10 rankings of the worlds best airlines after placing 12th last year. It was ranked as high as sixth in 2008.
The airline also won the top honor for the best cabin staff and best catering signature dish for its "satay service" this year. Founded in 1947, Malaysia Airlines is one of the oldest carriers on the list and has been undergoing a major overhaul in recent years to modernize its fleet. It made headlines earlier this month when it took delivery of its first Airbus A380 at the Farnborough Airshow. The A380 (pictured) is one of four aircraft that Malaysia Airlines expects to receive this year, with two more to be delivered in 2013.
9. Thai Airways
Fleet size: 90
Hub: Bangkok
Thai Airways dropped four spots to rank ninth this year after placing among the worlds five best airlines in 2011. In 2006, the airline took the top honor as the world's best airline and placed second a year later.
The carrier, which is partly owned by the Thai government, was founded in 1960. Known for its friendly cabin staff, Thai Airways is one of few airlines that require international female flight attendants to change from their purple suits into traditional Thai dresses prior to the boarding of passengers. A popular employer in Thailand, the airline drew over 3,600 applicants for just 370 cabin crew positions last July.
8. Emirates
Fleet size: 174
Hub: Dubai
Emirates, the largest carrier in the Middle East, moved up two spots in this years rankings after placing 10th in 2011.
The airline also won the best in-flight entertainment award for the eighth year in a row. Its in-flight entertainment selection boosts of 1,200 channels and 280 movies. Founded in 1985, the government-owned carrier operates over 1,200 flights from Dubai each week. It is one of the worlds biggest airlines by passenger numbers and the largest customer of the Airbus A380 superjumbo.
Emirates' rapid expansion has turned Dubai into a high-volume intercontinental travel hub. In November 2011, the airline made history by announcing the largest-ever Boeing plane order in dollar-terms to date, buying 50 new aircraft for $18 billion. However in May this year, the airline reported a 72 percent drop in 2011 earnings as rocketing fuel prices cut into profits. Fuel costs rose by 44 percent to $6.6 billion, and the airline has said recently that it has had to pass off the cost to customers.
7. Turkish Airlines
Fleet size: 184
Hub: Istanbul
Turkish Airlines is the only European airline to make the list of the worlds best airline for the second straight year. The carrier moved up two spots in the rankings after breaking into the top 10 for the first time in 2011.
Founded in 1933, the airline has been undergoing considerable transformation since the government shed more than half its stake in the carrier in 2003. Turkish Airlines has adopted an aggressive marketing strategy in recent years. Television ads for the airline have featured some of the world's most recognizable faces, including such superstar athletes as the NBA's Kobe Byrant.
This year, the carrier won the award for the best premium economy seats for a second year in a row and came in second worldwide in the best economy catering category. Passenger numbers jumped 20 percent year-on-year to 17.7 million people in the first six months of the year despite the carrier canceling 104 flights on May 29 after staff protested against a draft law that would make it illegal for aviation workers to strike.
6. Etihad Airways
Fleet size: 66
Hub: Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways is in the six spot for a second year and retains the top ranking for the worlds best first-class cabin and first-class catering.
In first class, the airline offers seats that transform into 6-foot-8 flatbeds with a built-in massage system. The seats are upholstered with the same leather that supplies Ferrari interiors. Passengers in first and business class also get free chauffeur service in a dozen cities across the world. In addition, Etihad announced last month that it bought 200 hens and three beehives to produce organic eggs and honey to be served to passengers in an attempt to win customers from rival Gulf carriers.
With its relatively small fleet of 66 aircraft, Etihad nearly matches fellow national carrier Emirates, which has 174 aircraft, in operating more than 1,000 flights per week from its base in Abu Dhabi. Expanding through ties with other carriers as well as buying stakes in international airlines, 8-year-old Etihad is growing rapidly.
5. All Nippon Airways
Fleet size: 226
Hub: Tokyo
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has broken into the top 10 this year, jumping six spots from last year’s rankings.
It also ranks No. 2 in the world for best ground services and is third for the best first class. The airline is the launch customer for Boeing’s highly anticipated 787 Dreamliner (pictured), and has ordered 55 of the aircraft in an attempt to modernize its fleet. The plane boasts of higher cabin pressure and humidity in order to make flying more comfortable.
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
Fleet size: 138
Hub: Hong Kong
No stranger to global recognition, Cathay Pacific was voted airline of the year just three years ago. In 2012, Asia’s No. 4 carrier by market value held on to the fourth spot from last year.
A $128 million plan to revamp its business class cabins has paid off for Cathay Pacific, as the airline won the best business class award. It’s also number two in the world for in-flight entertainment.
3. Singapore Airlines
Fleet size: 105
Hub: Singapore
Almost always at the top of any global airline ranking, Singapore Airlines dropped one spot this year to take the title of the third best airline in the world.
Despite its luxury image and being ranked No. 2 in the world for first class, Singapore Airlines scored the top spots this year when it came to the best economy class and best economy class catering. However, the world’s second-largest carrier by market value has struggled with weak load factors in recent months. The airline reported an unexpected loss in the first quarter of this year — its first since the tail end of the global financial crisis in 2009.
10- Malaysia Airlines
Fleet size: 84
Hub: Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Airlines breaks back into the top 10 rankings of the worlds best airlines after placing 12th last year. It was ranked as high as sixth in 2008.
The airline also won the top honor for the best cabin staff and best catering signature dish for its "satay service" this year. Founded in 1947, Malaysia Airlines is one of the oldest carriers on the list and has been undergoing a major overhaul in recent years to modernize its fleet. It made headlines earlier this month when it took delivery of its first Airbus A380 at the Farnborough Airshow. The A380 (pictured) is one of four aircraft that Malaysia Airlines expects to receive this year, with two more to be delivered in 2013.
9. Thai Airways
Fleet size: 90
Hub: Bangkok
Thai Airways dropped four spots to rank ninth this year after placing among the worlds five best airlines in 2011. In 2006, the airline took the top honor as the world's best airline and placed second a year later.
The carrier, which is partly owned by the Thai government, was founded in 1960. Known for its friendly cabin staff, Thai Airways is one of few airlines that require international female flight attendants to change from their purple suits into traditional Thai dresses prior to the boarding of passengers. A popular employer in Thailand, the airline drew over 3,600 applicants for just 370 cabin crew positions last July.
8. Emirates
Fleet size: 174
Hub: Dubai
Emirates, the largest carrier in the Middle East, moved up two spots in this years rankings after placing 10th in 2011.
The airline also won the best in-flight entertainment award for the eighth year in a row. Its in-flight entertainment selection boosts of 1,200 channels and 280 movies. Founded in 1985, the government-owned carrier operates over 1,200 flights from Dubai each week. It is one of the worlds biggest airlines by passenger numbers and the largest customer of the Airbus A380 superjumbo.
Emirates' rapid expansion has turned Dubai into a high-volume intercontinental travel hub. In November 2011, the airline made history by announcing the largest-ever Boeing plane order in dollar-terms to date, buying 50 new aircraft for $18 billion. However in May this year, the airline reported a 72 percent drop in 2011 earnings as rocketing fuel prices cut into profits. Fuel costs rose by 44 percent to $6.6 billion, and the airline has said recently that it has had to pass off the cost to customers.
7. Turkish Airlines
Fleet size: 184
Hub: Istanbul
Turkish Airlines is the only European airline to make the list of the worlds best airline for the second straight year. The carrier moved up two spots in the rankings after breaking into the top 10 for the first time in 2011.
Founded in 1933, the airline has been undergoing considerable transformation since the government shed more than half its stake in the carrier in 2003. Turkish Airlines has adopted an aggressive marketing strategy in recent years. Television ads for the airline have featured some of the world's most recognizable faces, including such superstar athletes as the NBA's Kobe Byrant.
This year, the carrier won the award for the best premium economy seats for a second year in a row and came in second worldwide in the best economy catering category. Passenger numbers jumped 20 percent year-on-year to 17.7 million people in the first six months of the year despite the carrier canceling 104 flights on May 29 after staff protested against a draft law that would make it illegal for aviation workers to strike.
6. Etihad Airways
Fleet size: 66
Hub: Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways is in the six spot for a second year and retains the top ranking for the worlds best first-class cabin and first-class catering.
In first class, the airline offers seats that transform into 6-foot-8 flatbeds with a built-in massage system. The seats are upholstered with the same leather that supplies Ferrari interiors. Passengers in first and business class also get free chauffeur service in a dozen cities across the world. In addition, Etihad announced last month that it bought 200 hens and three beehives to produce organic eggs and honey to be served to passengers in an attempt to win customers from rival Gulf carriers.
With its relatively small fleet of 66 aircraft, Etihad nearly matches fellow national carrier Emirates, which has 174 aircraft, in operating more than 1,000 flights per week from its base in Abu Dhabi. Expanding through ties with other carriers as well as buying stakes in international airlines, 8-year-old Etihad is growing rapidly.
5. All Nippon Airways
Fleet size: 226
Hub: Tokyo
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has broken into the top 10 this year, jumping six spots from last year’s rankings.
It also ranks No. 2 in the world for best ground services and is third for the best first class. The airline is the launch customer for Boeing’s highly anticipated 787 Dreamliner (pictured), and has ordered 55 of the aircraft in an attempt to modernize its fleet. The plane boasts of higher cabin pressure and humidity in order to make flying more comfortable.
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
Fleet size: 138
Hub: Hong Kong
No stranger to global recognition, Cathay Pacific was voted airline of the year just three years ago. In 2012, Asia’s No. 4 carrier by market value held on to the fourth spot from last year.
A $128 million plan to revamp its business class cabins has paid off for Cathay Pacific, as the airline won the best business class award. It’s also number two in the world for in-flight entertainment.
3. Singapore Airlines
Fleet size: 105
Hub: Singapore
Almost always at the top of any global airline ranking, Singapore Airlines dropped one spot this year to take the title of the third best airline in the world.
Despite its luxury image and being ranked No. 2 in the world for first class, Singapore Airlines scored the top spots this year when it came to the best economy class and best economy class catering. However, the world’s second-largest carrier by market value has struggled with weak load factors in recent months. The airline reported an unexpected loss in the first quarter of this year — its first since the tail end of the global financial crisis in 2009.
