Skytrax World Airline Award Winners Announced

[yohy?!]

THE WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS™ - SKYTRAX

Top 10 for 2010

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

Virgin Blue took out Best LCC for Aus/Pacific

Air NZ took out best cabin service for Aus/Pacific

 

[anat0l]

No surprises that DJ takes out best LCC in our region. Would you pick someone else?

Surprised perhaps that VA didn't take over QF as best in Australia/Pacific, considering the negative vibes QF has got over the last year.

TG's BKK F Lounge continues to get the gong for best F Lounge.

Interestingly, QF took out best Y+ class, 3rd in best F class and...big surprise...7th in best airline overall (surprise as in I was expecting QF to get lower or fall off the list). It even beat EK, which to me is a big surprise.

 

[yohy?!]

No surprises that DJ takes out best LCC in our region. Would you pick someone else?

No way! Deathstar picked up zero awards this year.

 

[NM]

No surprises that DJ takes out best LCC in our region. Would you pick someone else?

I wonder how Virgin Blue executives feel about winning the award? They are trying to distance themselves from the LCC perception but continue to be perceived as a leader in that market.

 

[under the radar]

I wonder how Virgin Blue executives feel about winning the award? They are trying to distance themselves from the LCC perception but continue to be perceived as a leader in that market.

agree here.. VB markets itself as a 'new world carrier'!!! (am still unsure what that means???) more virgin group spin!!!... not 'low cost carrier'.

 

[dajop]

I wonder how Virgin Blue executives feel about winning the award? They are trying to distance themselves from the LCC perception but continue to be perceived as a leader in that market.

Yes if you look at a comparison to airlines in some parts of the world - what DJ offer domestically isn't that inferior (in some instances superior) to what some airlines that are not considered LCC's offer. What makes them a LCC?

1) They charge for luggage for non-elites on lowest fares. Go look at the legacy carriers in US and some parts of Europe.
2) They charge for food on board. Go look at the legacy carriers in US and some parts of Europe.
3) They use their own distribution system. This has changed they now use GDS as well
4) Point to point fares only. This has changed they offer connecting services
5) Charge for IFE. At least they have some, many airlines don't.
6) No business class. They have premium economy - which is similar to J class in Europe, but some "full service" airlines operate without a J cabin.
7) No FF program. No they have one.
8) No interlining. No they have one.
9) Operate out of tinsheds and don't use airbridges. No they do.
10) Operate a single aircraft type and its variants. No have two types in fleet (three if count VA)
11) They don't offer free beverages on board. Aaah this is it. That must be why they are still a LCC.

 

[Dee Thom]

It was interesting to note that Garuda picked up most improved Airline, me thinks up was the only way they could go..............

Cheers Dee

 

[NM]

What makes them a LCC?

Well that depends on who the "loc cost" is referring to. If its "low cost" is referring to the fare paid by the customer, then it refers to an airline that offers low fares. If the "low cost" refers to the operating costs of the airline, then it may be a very different story.

One would assume these to be relates, but they may not be. While Qantas may offer some low fares (i.e. low cost to some passengers", their operating costs are certainly not low when compared with the likes of RyanAir, Air Asia or Tiger. And just because an airline may have a low operating cost base does not necessarily mean they will have the lowest fares on any particular route at any particular time.

 

[harvyk]

Yes if you look at a comparison to airlines in some parts of the world - what DJ offer domestically isn't that inferior (in some instances superior) to what some airlines that are not considered LCC's offer. What makes them a LCC?

I do believe it's because they have their website and phone number printed on the side of their planes... This seems to be a common trait amongst LCC's which legacy carriers don't do...

All DJ need to do is remove the website and phone number from it's liveries and they will join the ranks of it's full service brothers

 

[dajop]

f its "low cost" is referring to the fare paid by the customer, then it refers to an airline that offers low fares. If the "low cost" refers to the operating costs of the airline, then it may be a very different story.

On both of these counts, my vote for LCC of the year goes to EK Low costs (ie lower capital and fuel costs than most airlines) and low fares ($350AUD return SIN-MEL-SIN beats anything I could find on Jetstar or combos of Tiger via Perth ......)