The world’s best airline for 2022 named “Qatar Airways”

From Covid to chaos, it’s been another bumpy year for the aviation industry. In much of the northern hemisphere, the busy summer season was beset by delays and cancellations, while in the United States a new study this week found that airplane passenger satisfaction is declining across the board.

Still, as we roll into the calmer travel months of September and October, there was cause of celebration in London on Friday, as the industry’s leaders gathered at the Langham Hotel for the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022 — the first time the event had been held in person since 2019.

Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site, conducted more than 14 million customer surveys in more than 100 countries between September 2021 to August 2022 to find out the world’s current favorite airline.

This year’s winner was no stranger to the podium. The newly crowned Qatar Airways has won the top prize a total of seven times since the awards were introduced in 1999. The Qatari flag-carrier also scooped up eight more gongs on Friday, including Best Business Class, Best Business Class Seat and Best Business Class Lounge Dining. That’s going to be a lot to bring back through hand luggage.

Just two months ago, the carrier took the No.1 slot in AirlineRatings.com‘s ranking of the world’s best airlines.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, thanked his “incredible employees” for “their continued dedication and drive” and said that “to win these awards in the same year that we celebrate our 25th anniversary is even more rewarding.”

Shortly after receiving the award, he told CNN Travel the secret of the airline’s sustained success was: “Consistent service, consistent product, consistent attention to passengers and absolute dedication from everyone that works in the airline.”