AirlineRatings.com has announced Qatar Airways as its Airline of the Year for 2021.Qatar Airways is being honored for its multi award winning in-flight innovations, commitment to global travellers during COVID-19, operational safety, pursuit of excellence and environmental leadership.These many factors have stamped the airline as a clear industry leader.The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, judged by global editors with over 100 years of combined industry experience, considers major safety and government audits, with 11 key criteria that include: fleet age, passenger reviews, COVID-19 rating and product offerings.AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said: “In our objective analysis Qatar Airways came out number one in virtually all of our audit criteria, which is an exceptional performance.”Air New Zealand, a previous winner of Airline of the Year in 2020, picked up Best Premium Economy and Best Economy. Qantas, won Best Domestic Airline Service, and Best Lounges while Singapore Airlines picked up Best First Class.Virgin Australia won Best Cabin Crew while Best In-Flight Entertainment went to Emirates.Qantaslink won Best Regional Airline and VietJetAir took out Best Ultra Low-Cost airline.Excellence in Long Haul travel: United Airlines (Americas), Lufthansa (Europe), Qatar Airways (Middle-East/Africa), Singapore Airlines (Asia) and Air New Zealand (Pacific).Best Low-Cost Airline: Southwest (Americas), easyjet (Europe) and Jetstar (Asia/Pacific).Top Twenty Airlines 2021AirlineRatings.com also named its Best of the Best:

1. Qatar Airways
2. Air New Zealand
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Qantas
5. Emirates
6. Cathay Pacific
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. United Airlines
9. EVA Air
10. British Airways
11. Lufthansa
12. ANA
13. Finnair
14. Japan Air Lines
15. KLM
16. Hawaiian Airlines
17. Alaska Airlines
18. Virgin Australia
19. Delta Air Lines
20. Etihad Airways

Source: AirlineRatings.com