Worlds best AND safest Airlines 2019

The results have been counted and checked and the winner of the world’s best airline according to AirlineRatings.com is……. Singapore Airlines.

Having come third in 2018 the airline has upped the ante and taken aviation's top prize for the second time running nudging out previous winners including double winner Air New Zealand, Qantas and Qatar Airways.

It wasn’t all bad news for Qantas as they scooped the Safest Airline award but more on that later.

Criteria for the best airline award is awarded on the following 7 criteria:

• Inflight entertainment
• Baggage allowances
• Meals and beverages
• Passenger comfort including pillows and blankets
• Seat pitch and Leg room
• Website clarity and information
• First class facilities

With its investment in new aircraft and its recent Singapore to New York route, Singapore Airlines was rated as the “Gold Standard” by AirlineRatings editor Geoffrey Thomas.

The airlines First Class offering also won it the First Class award with its suites being compared to a hotel room in the sky. The six cabins can be found on the upper deck of the airlines Airbus A380.

Qantas took the award for the safest airline which is based on criteria such as incident records, age of the fleet and industry audits.

Other airlines in the top 10 included Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Virgin Airways, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. British Airways came within the top 20 best and safest airlines.

Airlines to avoid included Ariana Afghan and Blue Wing airlines which both scored badly and came close to the bottom

Qatar Airways scored top for best business class, Air New Zealand won best premium economy and Wizz Air won best low-cost European carrier pipping last years winner Norwegian to the crown. Emirates gets to keep its best inflight entertainment award and our very own Virgin gets the prize for best cabin crew.