The Top 10 Lists

10. Etihad Airways

Established in 2003, Etihad Airways (Arabic: الإتحاد‎, ʼal-ʻitiħād) is the flag carrier airline of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad (Arabic for "united", "federation" or "union") is the Arabic abbreviation for الإمارات العربية المتحدة - United Arab Emirates. It operates services to the Middle East, Europe, Indian subcontinent, North America, Far East, Africa, and Oceania. Its main base is Abu Dhabi International Airport.

 

In 2008, it carried more than six million passengers, compared with 340,000 in its first full year of operations in 2004.

 

9. Emirates

Emirates Airline (shortened form: Emirates) (Arabic: طيران الإمارات Ṭayarān al-Imārāt) is a major airline in the Middle East, and a subsidiary of The Emirates Group. It is the national airline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Emirates operates an international network from its hub at Dubai International Airport, spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. The airline operates over 1,990 passenger flights per week, to 101 destinations in 61 countries across 6 continents. The company also operates four of the world's longest non-stop commercial flights from Dubai to Los Angeles, São Paulo, Houston, and San Francisco, all on the Boeing 777-200LR.

 

In 2008 the airline was the eighth-largest airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried, and fifth-largest in the world in terms of scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown. It is also the ninth-largest in terms of scheduled freight tonne-kilometres flown (eighth in scheduled international freight tonne-kilometres flown). The airline ranks amongst the top 10 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue, passenger kilometres, and has become the largest airline in the Middle East in terms of revenue, fleet size, and passengers carried. It is the eighth largest airline in Asia, in terms of passengers carried. Cargo activities are undertaken by the Emirates Group's Emirates SkyCargo division. Its main base is Dubai International Airport. On 16 October 2008, Emirates moved all operations at Dubai International Airport to Terminal 3, a new terminal exclusively for Emirates. Terminal 3 is over 1,500,000 m2 (370 acres), the largest building in the world by floor space. Emirates currently handles 60% of all passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport, and 38% of all aircraft movements at the airport.

During the 2007/08 financial year, Emirates carried 21.2 million passengers. A total of 1.3 million tonnes of cargo was transported by Emirates Airline and Emirates SkyCargo, the freight subsidiary of The Emirates Group.

 

Emirates is one of only six airlines to operate an all wide-body aircraft fleet. The airline will have 122 Boeing 777s in its fleet by 2011 making it the single largest aircraft type in fleet, and will also operate 58 Airbus A380-800s by 2012. Emirates became the second operator of the Airbus A380-800 when their first aircraft was delivered on 28 July 2008. Emirates has won numerous awards and is an industry bellwether for aircraft purchases, purchasing over 130 aircraft in 2007 alone. Emirates will have about 200 aircraft in its fleet by 2012, and will have more than 450 aircraft in its fleet by 2020.

 

Emirates has built up a strong brand name as a trendsetter in the aviation industry, particularly in terms service excellence, coupled with consistent profitability. In 2009, Emirates was voted the fifth best airline in the world by research consultancy firm Skytrax, from 2008 (ninth), 2007 (ninth), 2006 (fifth) and 2005 (third).

 

8. Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ, NZX: AIR, Air New Zealand) is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 13 domestic destinations and 26 international destinations in 14 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is currently the only airline to fly round the world. Air New Zealand's route network focuses on Australasia and the South Pacific, with long-haul services to Asia, Europe and North America. The airline's main hub is Auckland Airport (formerly Auckland International Airport). Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance global airline alliance, having joined in 1999.

 

Air New Zealand originated in 1940 as Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), a flying boat company operating trans-Tasman flights between New Zealand and Australia. TEAL became wholly owned by the New Zealand Government in 1965, whereupon it was renamed Air New Zealand. The airline was largely privatised in 1989, but returned to government ownership in 2001 after the failed tie up with Australian carrier Ansett Australia. As of 2008, Air New Zealand carries 11.7 million passengers annually.

 

New Zealand's national airline operates a long-haul fleet of Boeing 747-400, 767-300ER, and 777-200ER aircraft on international routes, and utilises Airbus A320-200 and Boeing 737-300 airliners for short-haul operations. Air New Zealand's regional subsidiaries, Air Nelson, Eagle Airways, Mount Cook Airline, and Zeal320, operate additional short-haul New Zealand and trans-Tasman services.

Air New Zealand's slogan is "Amazing journeys. Every day."

 

7. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (Arabic: القطرية‎) is the flag carrier airline of Qatar, based in Doha. It operates a hub and spoke network, linking over 80 international destinations. It is among the only six airlines awarded 5-star rating by Skytrax along with Kingfisher Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Asiana Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

 

6. Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (Malay: Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia; Chinese: 马来西亚航空公司; MYX: 3786) is the flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its secondary hub in Kota Kinabalu. Despite a financial restructuring exercise in 2006, Malaysia Airlines maintains a strong presence in Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Middle East and on the Kangaroo Route between Europe and Australasia. Malaysia Airlines also operates transatlantic flights from Kuala Lumpur to Newark, via Stockholm, and transpacific flights from Kuala Lumpur to Los Angeles, via Taipei. In 1997, the airline flew the world's longest non-commercial, non-stop flight from Boeing Field in Seattle to Kuala Lumpur, flying eastward passing the European and African continents and breaking the Great Circle Distance Without Landing record for an airliner on a Boeing 777-200ER longer than the record held by the Boeing 777-200LR.

 

Malaysia Airlines non-aeronautical revenue sources include maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and aircraft handling. Malaysia Airlines has two airline subsidiaries: Firefly and MASWings. Firefly operates scheduled flights from its home base Penang International Airport which focus on tertiary cities, while MASWings focuses on inter-Borneo flights. Malaysia Airlines has a freighter fleet operated by MASKargo, which manages freighter flights and aircraft cargo-hold capacity for all Malaysia Airlines' passenger flights. MASCharter is another subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, operating charter flights using Malaysia Airlines' passenger jets. After recovering from past losses, Malaysia Airlines is keen on merger and acquisition (M&A) activities: particularly airlines in the Asia Pacific region. Malaysia Airlines was ranked second with score 88 in Aviation Week's Top Performing Companies which accurately measures financial viability of an airline.

 

Since its inception in 1963, after Malayan Airways was separated into two parts, Malaysia Airlines has built up a strong brand name in the aviation industry for service and safety, coupled with numerous awards from international bodies such as Skytrax. Malaysia Airlines is accredited by International Air Transport Association with IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) for its operational safety practices.

It is one of only six airlines to be given a 5-star status airline by Skytrax (the other 5 are Asiana Airlines from South Korea, Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong, Qatar Airways from Qatar, Singapore Airlines from Singapore and Kingfisher Airlines from India). Malaysia Airlines is also listed among Skytrax's Quality Approved Airlines, alongside fellow 5-star carriers Asiana Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines and Qatar Airways.

 

5. Asiana

Asiana Airlines (Hangul: 아시아나 항공; RR: Asiana Hanggong; KRX: 020560; formerly Seoul Airlines) is an airline based in Seoul, South Korea and is one of South Korea's two major airlines, along with Korean Air. Asiana is one of six airlines to receive a five-star rating from Skytrax.

 

Asiana is a member of the Star Alliance and operates services to 12 domestic destinations and 82 international destinations in 21 countries worldwide.

 

Asiana's headquarters and overseas hub is located at Incheon International Airport (near Seoul) and its domestic hub is at Gimpo International Airport.

 

4. Thai Airways

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (Thai: การบินไทย)(SET: THAI) is the national air carrier of Thailand, operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, and is a founding member of the Star Alliance network. It is headquartered in Bangkok. The airline operates some of the longest non-stop commercial flights, including routes from Bangkok to Los Angeles. Skytrax awarded Thai Airways International 'Worlds Best Cabin Staff and The Best Airline in the World' in 2006, while placing second in the 'Airline of the Year' category in 2007.

3. Qantas

Qantas Airways Limited (pronounced /ˈkwɒntəs/) (ASX: QAN) is the national airline of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an acronym for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport. It is Australia's largest airline and is the world's second oldest continuously operating airline (behind KLM). Qantas is headquartered in the Qantas Centre in the Mascot suburb of the City of Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales.

 

In 2009, Qantas was voted the sixth best airline in the world by research consultancy firm Skytrax, a successive drop from 2008 (third), 2007 (fifth), 2006 (second) and 2005 (second).

2. Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific (traditional Chinese: 國泰航空; simplified Chinese: 国泰航空; pinyin: Guótài Hángkōng, SEHK: 0293) is the flag carrier of Hong Kong. Based at Hong Kong International Airport, the airline's operations include scheduled passenger and cargo services to 58 destinations in 29 countries worldwide. Cathay Pacific is one of only six airlines worldwide to carry a five-star rating from Skytrax. Cathay Pacific has also won three "Airline of the Year" awards by Skytrax in 2003, 2005 and 2009. It is a member of the oneworld global alliance.

 

1. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) (Chinese: 新加坡航空公司; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Hángkōng Gōngsī, abbreviated 新航; Malay: Syarikat Penerbangan Singapura; Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ்) (SGX: C6L) is the national airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Singapore Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets. The company also operates trans-Pacific flights, including two of the world's longest non-stop commercial flights from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey and Los Angeles, California on the Airbus A340-500.

 

Singapore Airlines was the launch customer of the "superjumbo" Airbus A380. SIA has diversified into airline-related businesses such as aircraft handling and engineering.

 

Its wholly-owned subsidiary, SilkAir, manages regional flights to secondary cities with smaller capacity requirements. Subsidiary Singapore Airlines Cargo operates SIA's dedicated freighter fleet, and manages the cargo-hold capacity in SIA's passenger aircraft. SIA has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Atlantic and has also responded to the threats posed by the low-cost sector by investing a 49% stake in Tiger Airways. It ranks amongst the top 15 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue passenger kilometres, is the 11th largest airline in Asia and ranked 6th in the world for international passengers carried.

 

Singapore Airlines was ranked 33rd in Fortune's World’s Most Admired Companies rankings in 2009 and has built up a strong brand name as a trendsetter in the aviation industry, particularly in terms of innovation, safety and service excellence, coupled with consistent profitability. It has won numerous awards and is an industry bellwether for aircraft purchases.

Source: Skytrax

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