World Travel Awards announced by SkyTrax

World Travel Awards announced by SkyTrax 9:32 AM Tue, Nov 09, 2010 | Permalink Terry Maxon/Reporter     Bio |   E-mail  |  News tips SkyTrax announced its "World Travel Awards" on Sunday, including the world's top 10 airlines. Regrettably, none of the 10 operates passenger flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Here's the list: 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 The WTAs have a lot of categories. One U.S. airlines was named "best" -Virgin America, best low-cost airline in North America. Oneworld, the global alliance which has American Airlines as a principal member, was named best airline alliance. Looking at North America only, Air Canada was named the best airline, followed by Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines . Virgin America was the best low-cost carrier, followed by WestJet and Southwest Airlines. Again for North America only, WestJet was tops for airline staff service excellence, followed by Virgin America and Alaska Airlines. Here's some award background from SkyTrax: "More than 17.9 million air travellers from over 100 different nationalities took part in the 10 month survey, July 2009 to April 2010. ... The survey measures over 38 items of airline product and service standards. Assessing the customer experience across Airport and Onboard environments - check-in to boarding - onboard seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, IFE and staff service." For a complete list of first-place finishers, keep reading. Air Arabia Best Low-Cost Airline Middle East Air Asia Best Low-Cost Airline Asia Air Asia World's Best Low-Cost Airline Air Berlin Best Low-Cost Airline Europe Air Canada Best Airline : North America Air New Zealand Best Airline : Australia/Pacific Air New Zealand Staff Service Excellence Award - Australia/Pacific Asiana Airlines Airline of the Year Asiana Airlines Best Airline : Asia Cathay Pacific Best Airline - Transpacific Dragonair Best Regional Airline Emirates Best Inflight Entertainment Etihad Airways Best Airline Seat - First Class Etihad Airways Best Onboard Catering - First Class Etihad Airways World's Best First Class Finnair Best Airline : Northern Europe Garuda Indonesia World's Most Improved Airline GOL Best Low-Cost Airline South America Hainan Airlines Best Airline : China Hainan Airlines Staff Service Excellence Award - China IndiGo Best Low-Cost Airline India Kingfisher Airlines Best Airline : India/Central Asia Kingfisher Airlines Best Airline Seat - Economy Class Kingfisher Airlines Staff Service Excellence Award - India/Central Asia Kulula Best Low-Cost Airline Africa LAN Airlines Best Airline : South America LAN Airlines Staff Service Excellence Award - South America Lufthansa Best Airline : Europe Lufthansa Best Airline : Western Europe Malaysia Airlines Staff Service Excellence Award - Asia Malaysia Airlines World's Best Economy Class Malev Hungarian Airlines Best Airline : Eastern Europe Oneworld Best Airline Alliance Qantas Airways Best Airline Seat - Premium Economy Class Qantas Airways World's Best Premium Economy Class Qatar Airways Best Airline : Middle East Qatar Airways Best Onboard Catering - Business Class Qatar Airways Staff Service Excellence Award - Middle East Qatar Airways World's Best Business Class Singapore Airlines Best Airline : South East Asia Singapore Airlines Best Business Class Seat Singapore Airlines World's Best Cabin Staff South African Airways Best Airline : Africa South African Airways Staff Service Excellence Award - Africa Swiss Int'l Airlines Staff Service Excellence Award - Europe TACA Airlines Best Airline : Central America/Caribbean TACA Airlines Staff Service Excellence Award - Central America/Caribbean Thai Airways Best Airline Lounge - First Class Thai Airways Best Airport Services Thomson Airways World's Best Leisure / Charter Airline Turkish Airlines Best Airline : Southern Europe Turkish Airlines Best Onboard Catering - Economy Class Virgin America Best Low-Cost Airline North America Virgin Atlantic Airways Best Airline - Transatlantic Virgin Atlantic Airways Best Airline Lounge - Business Class Virgin Blue Best Low-Cost Airline Australia/Pacific WestJet Staff Service Excellence Award - North America