Cathay Pacific Voted Best Airline In The World

The company announced the results of its annual World Airline Awards at the Farnborough International Airshow in southern England this week. Cathay Pacific nabbed the top spot for the fourth time, the only airline to ever to do so. It also came in at No. 1 in 2003, 2005 and 2009.

The awards are based on a survey of 19 million airline passengers from 160 countries around the world. Customers voted for their favorite travel experiences between August 2013 and May 2014.

Last year’s winner, Emirates, dropped to fourth place, while Qatar Airways took second and Singapore Airlines secured third. No North American airlines landed in the survey’s top 10.

Cathay Pacific has invested $632 million in the past four years in cabin makeovers. Economy-class seats have been refurbished with a cradle mechanism that allows for a six-inch recline. Each seat has a personal touchscreen TV, extra storage space and power units to charge portable electronic devices. First-class passengers are outfitted with seats that transform into beds that lie flat with thick new mattresses.

The top 10 airlines in the survey are:

1. Cathay Pacific Airways

2. Qatar Airways

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Emirates

5. Turkish Airlines

6. ANA All Nippon Airways

7. Garuda Indonesia

8. Asiana Airlines

9. Etihad Airways

10. Lufthansa