Dubai-based Emirates Airline has been voted the world's best airline for the second year in a row in a global survey of more than four million passengers.
The airline won the title ahead of Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific at second; Singapore Airlines, third; British Airways, fourth; and Lufthansa German airline, fifth. The independent survey, which was conducted by UK-based Skytrax Research between August 2001 and March, received more than four million nominations - an increase of 50 per cent over the poll last year. The others in the top 10 bracket included Continental Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Air Canada. Skytrax chief executive Edward Plaisted said Emirates had won the title on the basis of its "well-rounded package of service and product quality". In regional categories, South African Airlines was named best African airline, Hong Kong-based Dragonair was voted best China airline and British Airways was voted best Trans-Atlantic airline. Lufthansa was named best airline Central Europe, SAS Scandinavian best airline Northern Europe, Czech Airlines best airline Eastern Europe. In addition to the overall award, Emirates was named the best Middle East and best long haul economy class airline.