World's Top 10 Airlines [Courtesy: Rediff]

The World Airline Awards are based on the annual World Airline Surveyby Skytrax - carried out between August 2007 and June 2008. Which arethe other top airlines of the world? Find out...

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. Air Emirates
10. Etihad Airways

1. Singapore Airlines has been ranked as the world's best airline for
the 3rd time in a decade. The awards are given every year by the
Skytrax, which conducts a world airline survey. Singapore Airlines also
bagged the award for offering the 'Best Business Class'.
Singapore Airlines took off with three flights per week in the
beginning. Today, their network spans across 103 destinations in 41
countries. Singapore Airlines was ranked 17th in 'Fortune's World's
Most Admired Companies' rankings in 2007. The airline is known the
world over for its innovation, safety and service excellence and
profitability.
The airline boasts of excellent inflight telecommunication,
entertainment services and luxurious amenities that make flying a
memorable experience.
The airline started its services on 1 May 1947. Singapore Airlines is
also the first airline to fly the world's largest aircraft, the A380.
The average age of the passenger fleet is about 6 years. Chew Choon Sen
is the company's CEO.

2. Cathay Pacific is ranked 2nd best airline in the world. It also
bagged the award for the world's 'Best First Class', for their new
onboard 1st Class product and service concept.
Hong Kong?s largest airline, Cathay offers passenger and cargo services
to 120 destinations worldwide. Cathay Pacific is one of only six
airlines worldwide to carry a five-star rating from Skytrax.
Cathay Pacific Airways was founded in Hong Kong on 24 September 1946 by
former air force pilots Roy Farrell and Australian Sydney de Kantzow.
The Cathay Pacific Group, including Dragonair and Air Hong Kong, now
operates more than 150 aircraft to 130 destinations across the world.
Eighteen years after the company was founded, it celebrated carrying
one million passengers. Nine years later, in 1973, the airline had a
record of one million people every year. Today, the airline flies about
one million passengers each month. Tony Tyler is the CEO of the
company.

3. Qantas is the third best airline in the world. It also bagged an
award for the 'Best First Class Lounge'. Qantas was founded in the
Queensland outback in 1920.
It was registered as the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial
Services Limited (QANTAS). The airline has a reputation for excellence
in safety, operational reliability, engineering and maintenance, and
customer service.
Qantas is known as the world's leading long distance airline and one of
the strongest brands in Australia. Its global route network covers more
than 675 destinations in more than 130 countries. Geoff Dixon is the
CEO.

4. Thai Airways ranks fourth in the list of top 10 airlines. It also
bagged the 4th place for the best cabin staff. Thai Airways
International was founded in 1960 as a joint venture between Thailand's
domestic carrier, Thai Airways Company (TAC) and Scandinavian Airlines
System (SAS).
On April 1, 1977, after a 17-year partnership with SAS, the Thai
government bought out SAS' remaining 15% holding and Thai became fully
owned by the Thai govt. Thai flies to 74 destinations in 34 countries
on four continents. It has a fleet size of 88 aircraft. Chaisawasd
Kittipornpaiboon is the Chairman of Thai Airways.

5. Asiana Airlines from South Korea is the 5th best airline in the
world. It also won an award for world's 'Best Cabin Staff' and award
for 'Best Economy Class'.
Asiana Airlines is known to offer one of the best services onboard.
Formerly known as Seoul Airlines, Asiana flies to 12 domestic
destinations and 73 international destinations in 17 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.
It has a fleet of 65 aircraft. Asiana was established on 17 February
1988 and started operations in December 1988 with flights to Busan.
Asiana was awarded a 5-star rating by Skytrax. Kang Chu-Ahn is the CEO
of the company.

6. Malaysia Airlines is ranked the 6th best airline in the world. The
flag carrier of Malaysia, it operates flights from the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport, and its secondary hub in Kota Kinabalu.
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 has started its operations in 1987 after the airline
changed its name from Malaysian Airline System. It was founded on 1947
by Malayan Airways. It started flying operations in 1947. In 1963, the
airline was renamed Malaysian Airways Limited. Idris Jala is the
managing director CEO of the airline. It is one of the six airlines to
be given a 5-star status airline by Skytrax.

7. Qatar Airways, a 5-star airline is ranked No.7 in the world. It also
bagged the award for ?Best Airline? and 'Best Cabin Staff' for the
Middle East region and 'Best Business Class Catering' category.
Qatar has seen an average growth of 35 per cent year-on-year for the
past 10 years. The airline is known for high quality services. Akbar Al
Baker is the CEO. It has a fleet size of 65 aircraft flying to over 80
international destinations.

8. Air New Zealand is the 8th best airline in the world. It offers
passenger and cargo transport services within New Zealand, Australia,
the South West Pacific, Asia, North America and the United Kingdom.
Its main hub is Auckland Airport in New Zealand. Air New Zealand began
as TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) in 1940. Today, it has a fleet
of 60 aircraft. The airline has gained reputation for innovative and
outstanding passenger services at a fair price. Rob Fyfe is the CEO of
the company.

9. Air Emirates is ranked as the 9th best airline in the world. It is
the eighth-largest airline in the world in terms of international
passengers carried.
It ranks amongst the top 10 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue, and
has become the largest airline in the Middle East in terms of revenue,
fleet size, and passengers carried and the eighth largest airline in
Asia, in terms of passengers carried.
The airline operates over 3,710 passenger flights per week, to 91
destinations in 55 countries.
During 2007-08, Emirates carried 21.2 million passengers.
The airline was established on 25 May 1985 by the Dubai government and
was supported by the founder of the German airline Germania, Hinrich
Bischoff, in its initial years.

10. Etihad Airways jumps into the top ten league for the first time.
Etihad Airways was set up as the National Airline of the United Arab
Emirates in July 2003 by a Royal decree issued by Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, then the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Dr Sheikh Ahmed
bin Saif Al Nahyan was appointed Chairman of the airline.
The Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways is expanding services at a fast
pace. On November 12, 2003, the airline started commercial operations
with the launch of a service to Beirut. Soon the company started adding
one new route a month. By June 2006, it started flying to over 30
destinations.
By 2010, the company plans to fly to 70 destinations. Etihad was the
first to launch a direct flight from the UAE to Geneva (June 2004),
Brussels and Toronto (October 2005) and first-ever non-stop flight from
Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg.