Travelers' Choice Awards Name Top Airlines in the World

by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Tue April 11, 2017

Travel website TripAdvisor announced Monday the results of its first-annual Travelers' Choice awards for airlines, with Emirates earning the No. 1 spot as the top carrier in the world.

TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice awards honored the top airlines in categories such as the World, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. It also highlighted 16 regional winners, all of which are determined by the level of service as voted by the website's users.

Using benchmarks such as outstanding service, quality and value, TripAdvisor used an algorithm that measured the quantity and quality of airline reviews and ratings submitted by travelers to determine the top carriers.

"We are proud to announce the inaugural Travelers' Choice awards for airlines, to help travelers make the most well-informed air travel decisions, based on the experiences of the global TripAdvisor community," TripAdvisor Flights general manager Bryan Saltzburg said in a statement. "The airline industry is investing billions of dollars in new aircraft and service enhancements to differentiate the flying experience and these awards recognize the carriers offering the very best experiences and value to the traveling public."

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On the list of top 10 airlines in the world, Asia dominated with five airlines being ranked, including Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Thai Smile and Garuda Indonesia. The United States had both JetBlue and Alaska Airlines make the top 10, finishing in fourth and ninth place, respectively.

Here are the lists of winners, via TripAdvisor:

Top 10 Airlines in the World

1. Emirates, United Arab Emirates

2. Singapore Airlines, Singapore

3. Azul, Brazil

4. JetBlue, United States

5. Air New Zealand, New Zealand

6. Korean Air, South Korea

7. Japan Airlines, Japan

8. Thai Smile, Thailand

9. Alaska Airlines, United States

10. Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia