Singapore Airlines voted best airline in the world - easyJet bags best low cost airline award

easyJet has been named the world's best low cost airline and Singapore Airlines the world's best airline in an annual World Airline Survey. Virgin Blue was in second place, followed by 2007 winner Jetstar Airways in third, Air Berlin in fourth, and Southwest Airlines in fifth in the low cost category.

In the best low cost airline in Europe category, Air Berlin was second behind easyJet with SkyEurope Airlines third.

Cathay Pacific was named as the second best airline in the world and was also recognised as having the best first class. Qantas was third in the category followed by Thai Airways and Asiana Airlines of Korea.

The awards are based on the world's largest passenger survey, involving 15 million passengers over an 11 month period and are organised by Skytrax. The awards are considered to be an industry benchmark.

Skytrax operates the Airline Star Ranking and Quality Certified Airline programmes.

Apart from being recognised as the world's best airline, Singapore Airlines, was also recognised as having the best business class service.

Virgin Atlantic received an award for the best business class lounge, repeating the success it achieved in 2007 for its Clubhouse airport lounge at London Heathrow.

The best first class lounge award went to Qantas for its first class facilities at Sydney airport.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline, placed ninth overall, won best airline in-flight entertainment for the fourth year in a row.

Airline catering was also recognised in the awards with Cathay Pacific being recognised as having the best first class on-board catering. Austrian Airlines was recognised for offering the best business class on-board catering, and Qantas for offering the best economy class on-board catering.

Commenting on easyJet's award, Skytrax CEO, Edward Plaisted, said: "As we have stated in earlier years, low-cost does not need to, nor should it equate to, low-quality service, and easyJet is clear testament that low-cost operations can be delivered with a good standard of customer care and passenger service quality - with their level of customer loyalty clearly demonstrating a winning formula".