MAS named world’s 6th best airline (Qatar Airways 7th).

SYDNEY, Aug 14 — Singapore Airlines has been named the World’s Best Airline in the 2008 Airline of the Year awards, with Qantas coming third in the annual survey, up from fifth place last year, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Malaysia Airlines came sixth.

After a spate of bad publicity for Qantas, including last month's on-board explosion, ongoing maintenance issues and an incident involving drunken flight attendant that led to two staff members resigning, the results bring some good news for the airline.

The awards, run by UK-based aviation research agency Skytrax, are based on the world's largest passenger survey, with 15 million passengers taking part around the world.

Recent reports on Qantas woes did not escape the notice of Skytrax's CEO, Edward Plaisted, who said that the criticism of airlines from within their own regions did not reflect the experiences of global customers.

The global rating for Qantas is interesting, he said. “We do find that many flag-carrier airlines suffer fairly vitriolic levels of reporting in their local regions, and the airline industry remains a business that some areas of the press seem to love to hate.”

Along with placing third in the awards behind Singapore and Cathay Pacific, Qantas also won the award for best first-class lounge, best economy-class catering and best airline in Australasia.

“The lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a five-star hotel or restaurant, and the best part is that the concept is being so well delivered by Qantas," Plaisted said.

Singapore won the title for the second year in a row and the third time in 10 years. The airline also took the award for best business class.

Business-class standards continue to be upgraded by airlines across the world, and Singapore Airlines managed to retain its title amidst this growing level of competition, Plaisted said.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, who recently expanded its Australian routes, climbed into the top 10 for the first time, placing tenth.

The world's best airlines :
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. Thai Airways
5. Asiana Airlines
6. Malaysia Airlines
7. Qatar Airways
8. Air New Zealand
9. Emirates
10. Etihad Airways.

Under various categories:
Best First Class — Cathay Pacific
Best Business Class — Singapore Airlines
Best Premium Economy Class — EVA Air
Best Economy Class — Asiana Airlines
Best low-cost airline — EasyJet ( where's AirAsia?? )
Best Inflight Entertainment — Emirates
Best First-Class Catering — Cathay Pacific
Best Business-Class Catering — Austrian
Best Airline: Transatlantic — British Airways
Best Airline: Transpacific — Air New Zealand.

From PACNEWS, the Pacific News Agency Service.