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World's 20 best airlines

Last updated on: December 19, 2012 08:30 IST

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Image: A view of inside the first-class twin cabin section of the Singapre Airlines Airbus A380 in Toulouse, France.
Photographs: Pascal Parrot/Getty Images.

Which are the world's best airlines? Travel + Leisure magazine conducted a poll of 76 global airlines on various parameters: cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, value, and food.

Here are the results of the poll...

Singapore Airlines (Rank 1)

Singapore Airlines bagged the first position for 17th year in a row. The airline is a favourite among flyers topping in every category of cabin comfort, in-flight service and food.

The impressive A380 first-class suites with sliding doors, 23-inch TVs are added attractions.

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Singapore AirlinesA380
Image: Air New Zealand.
Photographs: Reuters.

Air New Zealand (Rank 2)

Air New Zealand scores on cabin comfort, food, and improved in-flight service. The airline also offers cuddle class, a row of three seats that can be converted to a bed.

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Air New ZealandRank
Image: A first class seat is seen on board an Emirates Airbus A380-800 after it landed at Manchester Airport in Manchester.
Photographs: Phil Noble/Reuters.

Emirates (Rank 3)

Emirates slipped to the third position this year though it continues to score high on  cabin comfort, in-flight service, and food. Airline's customer service and value scores fell this year.

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Image: The First Class

Korean Air (Rank 4)

Korean Air rose to the 4th positon from 9th last year due to improved in-flight service and food, as well as cabin comfort and value.

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Korean AirRank
Image: An airport apron controller vehicle is pictured in front of a Cathay Pacific Boeing B747-400 Aircraft on the runway at Frankfurt's airport.
Photographs: Alex Domanski/Reuters.

Cathay Pacific (Rank 5)

Cathay Pacific scored high on the term of value of service and food. Cathay was among the first to have rice cookers on board.  Each seat is has power outlets and iPod and USB ports.

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USBRank
Image: A South Korean Asiana airlines jet undergoes flight preparations at Seoul's Kimpo airport.
Photographs: Reuters.

Asiana Airlines (Rank 6)

Asiana improved its cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, and value. It scored low on the food ranking.

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Asiana AirlinesRank
Image: Virgin America.
Photographs: Eric/Wikimedia Commons.

Virgin America (Rank 7)

Virgin America is the highest-ranking US airline in the survey. The Red touch-screen system that allows you to order snacks and drinks, shop are a big hit among travellers.

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Virgin AmericaRankUS
Image: Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways (Rank 8)

The airline's in-flight service, changes in cabin comfort and celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa are the biggest attraction.

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Nobu MatsuhisaQatar Airways

Virgin Atlantic Airways (Rank 9)

Virgin Atlantic Airways slipped to ninth position this year as it fell a notch in food, in-flight service, value and cabin comfort.

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Virgin Atlantic Airways

Photographs: Arpingstone/Wikimedia Commons.

Thai International Airways (Rank 10)

 

Thai Airways retained its position at No.10, maintaining the quality and standards offered last year.

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International Airways
Image: Eva Airways aircraft painted with Hello Kitty characters takes off at Narita international airport.
Photographs: Kyodo/Reuters.

EVA Air (Rank 11)

Better food and good service both in the air and on the ground have helped EVA Air to be among the favourite airlines.

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EVA Air
Image: Cartoon character Woody Woodpecker adorns an All Nippon Airways Boeing 767.
Photographs: Reuters.

All Nippon Airways (Rank 12)

All Nippon Airways has slipped to 12th position from 8th as travellers complained about cabin comfort and lack of value. 

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Nippon Airways
Image: A grounded Qantas aircraft is seen parked at Heathrow Airport in west London.
Photographs: Paul Hackett /Reuters.

Qantas Airways (Rank 13)

Qantas Airways improved its rank from 17th last year. The airline has designer Marc Newson's Skybeds, massage facility in business class, on-demand entertainment in every class on A380s and many 747s. 

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Qantas AirwaysMarc Newson
Image: Japan Airlines (JAL) aircrafts are seen on the tarmac at Haneda airport in Tokyo.
Photographs: Toru Hanai/Reuters.

Japan Airlines (Rank 14)

Though Japan Airlines improved its cabin comfort, it lagged behind in offering value.

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Japan Airlines
Image: Air Tahiti Nui A340-300.
Photographs: Brian/Wikimedia Commons.

Air Tahiti Nui (Rank 15)

Air Tahiti Nui's scores slipped across all categories. The survey highlighted the need for better food and cabin comfort.

 

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Air Tahiti Nui
Image: A JetBlue Airways plane awaits take off at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters.

JetBlue Airways (Rank 16)

JetBlue was steady in all categories. It improved on customer service this year.

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JetBlue Airways
Image: An Airbus A321-111 of Swiss International Air Lines is seen behind an apartment building during its approach for a landing at Zurich Airport.
Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters.

Swiss International Air Lines (Rank 17)

Swiss International Air Lines was ranked at 18 in the past two years. Improved in-flight service and food are the highlights.

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Swiss International Air Lines
Image: Israel's national carrier El Al Airlines at Berlin Schoenefeld.
Photographs: Michael Dalder/Reuters.

EL AL Israel Airlines (Rank 18)

The airline has improved its score with better cabin comfort and improved service in the air and on the ground. 

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EL AL Israel Airlines
Image: Finnair airplane is docked at the Chopin International Airport in Warsaw.
Photographs: Peter Andrews/Reuters.

Finnair (Rank 19)

Finnair dropped from 12th place as in-flight service and customer service failed to impress.

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Lufthansa (Rank 20)

Lufthansa's scores fell due to service in the air and ground, as well as food.


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LufthansaRank
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