SIA is No 1 in global airlines ranking; Changi Airport loses to Hong Kong International Airport to take second place

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) retained its pole position in a ranking of airlines worldwide this year, according to a survey conducted by online travel magazine SmartTravelAsia.com. The poll results were less pretty for Tiger Airways. It took seventh place in the budget airlines category - down from third last year.

Changi Airport also slipped in a ranking of airports, losing its crown to Hong Kong International Airport to take second place.

SmartTravelAsia.com's Best in Travel poll this year ran from May to July. The website did not state the number of voters who took part in the survey, though it said that around 60 per cent of them were based in Asia, 20 per cent in the UK and Europe, and 20 per cent in the US and North America.

The voters took an average of 15.75 air trips in the last 12 months and earned US$156,716 in household income.

In a ranking of airlines worldwide, SIA came out tops, followed by Cathay Pacific Airways and Emirates. SIA also took first place in the business class and cabin service categories.

The top 10 league for budget airlines saw AirAsia /AirAsia X in the lead, followed by Jetstar Asia and Cebu Pacific.

Among airports worldwide, Hong Kong International Airport came in first, followed by Changi Airport and Incheon International Airport in South Korea.

Hong Kong was also ranked the best city for business, keeping its top spot last year. Singapore was second, while Kuala Lumpur and Seoul tied for third.