The World Airline Awards has released its ranking of the top-performing airlines in Europe, with some notable absences from well-known budget carriers like Ryanair and easyJet in the top 10 list.
Compiled by Skytrax, the list was formulated from customer surveys covering various aspects such as staff friendliness, cabin cleanliness, seat comfort, and the overall quality of the airline’s website.
Claiming the top spot is Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, offering multiple routes from the UK to Turkish destinations like Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya from key bases in London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.
Rated as a four-star airline by Skytrax, Turkish Airlines was commended for delivering a superior travel experience on short-haul flights compared to many other legacy carriers in Europe and even outperforming some Middle Eastern competitors.
Another standout performer on the list is Air France, operating flights from various UK airports to destinations such as Paris and other major cities.
British Airways secured the fourth position, followed by Virgin Atlantic in sixth place, both representing the UK on the prestigious list. Virgin Atlantic offers services from London Heathrow, Manchester, and Edinburgh to destinations like the USA, Canada, Korea, and India.
In a recent study on airline legroom, surprising results emerged with Aer Lingus topping the list by offering 31-32 inches of space, closely followed by British Airways with 29-31 inches. Notably, easyJet claimed the third spot with 29 inches, challenging the notion that budget airlines always provide less legroom than premium carriers.
On the other end of the spectrum, Wizz Air ranked at the bottom with a seat pitch of 28 inches, indicating minimal differences in legroom between the best and worst options in economy class.