Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 12, 2016.
Farnborough, England
CNN
—
The world’s best airline for 2016 is Emirates, according to a survey of millions of airline passengers conducted by Skytrax.
The international airline, based in Dubai, won the top honors at Tuesday’s Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony at the Farnborough International Airshow in England.
As jet engines screamed from the Farnborough airfield and thousands of visiting aviation geeks explored the airshow, smiling flight attendants dressed in brightly colored uniforms stepped to the stage as each award was announced.
Courtesy Lufthansa
Skytrax has revealed its 2016 top 10 best airlines. In 10th place is German carrier Lufthansa. It's successfully climbed two places to re-enter the top 10 list.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images
Aussie airline Qantas, rarely absent from any top 10 list, moves up one place from 2015 to take ninth position.
ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images
After making a debut in the top 10 airline chart last year, Taiwan's EVA Air climbed to eighth place this year. It was also named the best trans-Pacific airline.
Turkish Airline
Slightly down from last year (ranked fourth in 2015), Turkish Airlines was voted as the seventh best airline in the world. It's still the best airline in Europe, according to Skytrax.
Patrick Riviere/Getty Images/FILE
One of three major Middle East carriers in the top 10, Abu Dhabi's Etihad remains in sixth place this year.
KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
Japan's ANA All Nippon Airways takes the fifth spot. It also takes awards for the world's best airport services and Asia's best airline staff.
DALE de la REY/AFP/Getty Images
Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific dropped from the third to fourth place this year.
Courtesy Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines, ranked third, is Asia's best airline. It also won the title for the best business class airline seat.
Qatar Airways
A 2015 winner, Qatar came second this year. It also has the world's best business class and business class lounge.
Courtesy Emirates
Emirates was named the best airline in this year's Skytrax awards -- a big leap from last year's fifth place. It's the fourth time the Dubai-based carrier has won the award.
AFP/Getty Images
SkyTrax also hands out a raft of other awards. AirAsia is named the world's best low-cost carrier. Its long-haul sister brand AirAsia X is said to have the best premium seat and cabin among budget airlines.
Norwegian Air
For the fourth successive year Norwegian Airline is voted the best low-cost airline in Europe. It's also the world's best low-cost airline for long haul flights.
Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com/VIRGIN
"Virgin America continues dominating on the customer side in North America," said Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO. It won the awards for both best airline and best low-cost airline in North America.
GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images/File
One of the oldest airlines in the world, South African Airways topped the best airlines chart in Africa. Other winners by regions include Finnair (Northern Europe), LAN Airlines (South America), Hainan Airlines (China) and Air Astana (Central Asia/India).
Star Alliance
With 27 member airlines, Star Alliance is the world's largest global airline alliance. It's named as the best airline alliance in the 2016 Skytrax awards.
courtesy Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific comes second to Etihad Airways in the category of world's best first class airlines, but its newly reopened first class lounge The Pier -- with a full-service bar -- came first.
Etihad Airways
It's hard to beat Etihad Airways when it comes to first class catering. The airline offers a chef to serve up in-flight meals to passengers.
The survey underscores the consistency of the quality service among the world’s top carriers, said Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO.
“The Middle East airlines have continued to dominate,” Plaisted said after the ceremony. “Virgin America continues dominating on the customer side in North America. Turkish Airlines is a big favorite.”
The awards run the gamut from 73 categories from best economy class onboard catering to best airline staff to best seats to best cabin cleanliness.
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The top 10 best airlines were named as:
1. Emirates
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Cathay Pacific
5. ANA All Nippon Airways
6. Etihad Airways
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Qantas Airways
10. Lufthansa
MORE: In pictures: The Farnborough Airshow
Other winners included:
Transatlantic Airline: Lufthansa
Transpacific Airline: Eva Air
North American Regional Airline: Porter Airline
Airline Staff in Asia: ANA airlines
Regional European Airline: Aegean
Airline lounge: Star Alliance
Airline in Southern Europe: Turkish Airlines
Airline in Northern Europe: FinnAir
Airline in Western Europe: Lufthansa
Airline in Eastern Europe: Aeroflot
Airline in Africa: South African Airways
Airline in Australia/Pacific: Qantas
Airline in Central Asia: Air Astana
Airline in China: Hainan Airlines
Airline in Central America/Caribbean: Copa Airlines
Airline in S. America: LAN Airlines
Airline in N. America: Virgin America
Airline in Asia: Singapore Airlines
Airline in Middle East: Emirates
Airline in Europe: Turkish Airlines
Low-cost airline in Australia & Pacific: JetStar Airways
Low-cost airline in Asia: AirAsia
Low-cost airline in Central Asia & India: IndiGo
Low-cost airline in China: Spring Airlines
Low-cost airline in South America: Azul Brazil
Low-cost airline in North America: Virgin America
Low-cost airline in Europe: Norwegian
Lounge dining business class: Turkish
First class lounge dining: Air France
Airline staff service Africa: Ethiopia Airlines
Airline staff service Aus Pac: Qantas