It’s the fastest growing airline in the world, and now Qatar Airways has been awarded the Airline of the Year at the Skytrax 2015 World Airline Awards for the third time, having previously won the accolade in 2011 and 2012 too.

And the winner of Skytrax Airline of the Year is...Qatar Airways. Image: Qatar Airways

The movers and shakers of the airline industry were announced on Tuesday, June 16 at the Paris Air Show. Award winners are chosen as a result of a worldwide airline passenger satisfaction survey and voted by almost 19 million people from over 160 countries. Accolades are seen as a mark of airline excellence and a coveted industry award.

While some may not have heard of the tiny Middle East state of Qatar, its national carrier has one of the youngest fleets in the world with 160 aircraft flying to 147 destinations across six continents, and the first to launch the new Airbus A350.  In Australia, Qatar Airways services Melbourne and Perth. Only established in 1997, the Doha-based carrier was also recognised at the 2015 World Airline Awards for Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East.

Qatar Airway's Airbus A350-900. Image: Qatar Airways

Singapore Airlines was the runner-up at the Skytrax 2015 World Airline Awards, with Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines and Emirates in the top five. Rounding out the top 10 airlines of 2015 are Etihad Airways, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Garuda Indonesia, EVA Air and our own Qantas. Virgin Australia came in at number 16 in the top 100 and Air New Zealand was just behind in the 17^th slot.

Qantas was awarded the Best Airline in the Pacific Region and Best Premium Economy Food. Virgin Australia won the accolade of Best Cabin Staff in the Pacific.

Air New Zealand was recognised for its Premium Economy seating, taking out the World’s Best Premium Economy Class, Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seat and Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering awards, which is available on the airline’s Boeing 777 short-haul routes.

Emirates won the top award for World’s Best Inflight Entertainment, while Garuda Indonesia was recognised as having the World’s Best Cabin Staff for the second year in a row.

Flying business class? Passengers travelling to Asia and the Middle East are the winners with Singapore Airlines taking top honours as the World’s Best Business Class Airline, and Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, ANA and Etihad Airways also in the top five. Qantas came in at number seven.

At the other end of the plane, the recipient of the World’s Best Economy Class Airline award is South Korea's Asiana Airlines, followed by Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Garuda Indonesia and Cathay Pacific.

The top 10 airlines of 2015:

1. Qatar Airways (Qatar)
2. Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
3. Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong)
4. Turkish Airlines (Turkey)
5. Emirates (Dubai, UAE)
6. Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
7. All Nippon Airways (Japan)
8. Garuda Indonesia (Indonesia)
9. EVA Air (Taiwan)
10. Qantas (Australia)