The Paris Air Show has reached the accolade portion of the proceedings, regaling followers of the industry with results of the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards.
When all was said and done, it was Qatar Airways sashaying down the figurative catwalk as the winner of the most prestigious award: Airline of the Year.
Air Canda had a fine showing as well, taking home the award as best in North America. It also came away with a hat tip as the 29th best airline in the entire world.
Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive of Air Canada, explained, via TravelPulse Canada: "We are delighted to be recognized as the Best Airline in North America by Skytrax based on the opinions of those who know us best: our customers. This award is a significant milestone in the transformation of Air Canada into one of the world's leading carriers and is all the more meaningful given the increased competition in our industry."
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, stated the following on the huge win, via press release: "For Qatar Airways to be named the World's Best Airline particularly at this critical point in time, is a significant testimony of our passengers' belief and trust in our unwavering commitment to deliver only the best.
"This award is also a reflection of the hard work and dedication of every employee at Qatar Airways. Our recognition at Skytrax this year is especially important as these awards are voted by travelers. To them I offer my sincere thanks, and I look forward to welcoming them on board soon."
This is indeed a critical moment in time for the airline. Several Middle Eastern nations cut ties with the carrier and banned any Qatari-based flight from crossing into their respective airspace earlier this month.
The ban came amid allegations the Qatari government had ties to funding terror groups.
The airline has done what it can to shift things to a more optimistic light. It proclaimed, via Reuters, that the ban did little to affect its flight schedule recently while rolling out a promising new product at this very air show.
Al Baker continues in the wake of the airline's latest win: "At these difficult times of illegal bans on flights out of my country by big bullies, this is an award not to me, not to my airline, but to my country."
Qatar Airways has done more than take home the airline of the year nod. It utilized the time at the Paris Air Show to physically highlight its lavish new business class product called Qsuite.
It also dropped a video on June 18 called "No Borders, Only Horizons," a direct answer to the previously mentioned restrictions.
[CALLOUT]
This represents the fourth time Qatar Airways has claimed the industry's best in show. It also claimed distinction as Best Airline in the Middle East, World's Best Business Class and World's Best First Class Airline Lounge.
Singapore Airlines, ANA All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines and Garuda Indonesia rounded out the top 10 as Skytrax's World's Best Airlines in 2017.
No American carrier broke the top 20.
Delta Air Lines was No. 9 in regards to in-flight entertainment, however. Alaska Airlines did well as it took home distinction in the Best Regional Airline category (No. 4). American carriers were well represented in the Best Low-Cost Airline category as well, with jetBlue (No. 3), Virgin America (No. 5) and Southwest Airlines (No. 9) getting adulation.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Qatar Entices Travelers with Free Hotel Stays [/READMORE]
Singapore Airlines certainly had reason to celebrate, taking the second overall spot in the ceremony as well as the top slot in categories such as Best Airline in Asia, the World's Best Business Class seat and Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering.
Skytrax explains that this ceremony is both vetted and surveyed very thoroughly: "19.87 million eligible survey entries were counted in the final results, and 105 nationalities participated in the survey from August 2016 to May 2017."
It also explains that there is a high level of authenticity that comes with the results as they are devoid of outside influence: "The survey voting processes and awards results analysis were subject to detailed, independent assessment by the UK advertising authority (ASA) in 2015 and found fully compliant, transparent and independent."
The industry once again took a bow and lauded those airlines that continue to lavish consumers in opulence, efficiency and comfort.
It was Qatar Airways coming away as belle of the ball, and it comes at a most intriguing time for the company.
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