Airlines with the best business class, ranked

Singapore Airlines has one of the best business-class cabins in the world.Singapore Airlines

• Skytrax released its annual ranking of the airlines with the best business class for 2018.
• Airlines from Asia and the Middle East dominate the list, with Qatar Airways being voted the finest business class in the world. 
• Regional business-class winners were also announced, along with the airlines with the best catering and seat comfort. 

Skytrax, the United Kingdom-based consumer aviation agency, recently released its annual “Best Airlines in the World” ranking for 2018. The survey, which began in 1999, is an annual customer-satisfaction survey that is among the most well-respected in the industry. It has gone from attracting the entries of 2.2 million airline customers in 2000 to receiving more than 20 million entries in 2018. 

Skytrax also evaluated which business-class cabin sits supreme in their 2018 rankings.

This year, 335 airlines were included in the survey and more than 20 million respondents were counted in the final results, which measured multiple categories under the three umbrellas of cabin service, experience at the airport, and the onboard product of the flight. 

This year, Qatar Airways was voted the world’s best business class. Its business-class seats were also named the best in the world. Singapore Airlines came in second in both categories. Turkish Airlines won this year’s awards for best business-class lounge and best lounge dining, while Austrian Airlines won the award for best business-class onboard catering. 

In a surprising upset, China-based Hainan Airlines beat out Qatar Airways and Taiwanese-based EVA Air in the best business-class comfort amenities ranking. This category ranked comfort essentials like pillows, wash-kits, duvets, blankets, pajamas, and hot-and-cold towel service.   

Ethiopian Airlines was voted the best business class in Africa, Singapore Airlines the best business class in Asia, Lufthansa the best business class in Europe, Hainan Airlines the best business class in China, Qatar Airways the best business class in the Middle East, Azul Airlines the best in South America, and Air Canada the best business class in North America.

Only one United States-based airline, United Airlines, won an award — it was named as having the best business-class lounge in the US.

Take a look at the best business-class cabins below: