LATAM Airlines was recognized as the best airline in Latin America in 2023, praised for its extensive coverage and operational efficiency. At the World Airline Awards, it received multiple accolades, including «Best Airline in South America.» Globally, Qatar Airways was awarded as the best airline in the world, while Copa Airlines was distinguished as the most punctual in Latin America.
The World Airline Awards, known as the «Oscars of the aviation industry,» annually reveal the ranking of the best airlines over 12 months, categorized by continent.
The presentation of its 2024 edition was organized by Skytrax and took place at the Fairmont Windsor Park Hotel in London, with more than 325 guests from the sector attending, along with representatives from various airlines around the world.
These awards recognized the work of more than 100 companies, based on 14 million customer surveys from around the world. It is worth noting that Latin America and the Caribbean represent 8% of the global aviation market.
Which was the best Latin American airline in 2023?
The airline that secured first place, being ranked as the best in the region, was LATAM Airlines, which reported an average occupancy of 83.40%, covering 145 destinations and transporting a total of 74,180,000 passengers in 2023.
In addition to dominating the region, LATAM has a strong presence in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, allowing connections between these countries, which are some of the most visited in Latin America.
In second place was Brazil’s Azul Airlines, the largest low-cost carrier in the country, standing out for being one of the most punctual airlines, according to All Nippon Airways, with 88.20% of its 23,559 tracked flights arriving on time.
LATAM’s biggest rival is Avianca Holding, which has a strong presence in Central America and Colombia, helping it secure third place in this ranking and maintaining competition for years.
At the recent event, LATAM received the following recognitions from Skytrax:
- Best Airline in South America
- Best Airline Staff Service in South America
- Best Economy Class Cabin in South America
- Best Business Class Cabin in South America
- Best Onboard Catering in Economy Class in South America
- Best Onboard Catering in Business Class in South America
- Best Business Class Lounge in South America (Santiago)
This year, LATAM was also awarded at the APEX Passengers Choice Awards as:
- Best Airline in South America for Onboard Entertainment
- Best Food and Beverage
The airline’s standards in safety, quality, health, and environmental performance have allowed it to earn and maintain the trust of its customers on every flight they choose.
Additionally, the ethics and rigor with which they operate in every country where they have commercial operations have helped them achieve many years of uninterrupted service with minimal disruptions.
At the recent event, LATAM received the following recognitions from Skytrax:
- Best Airline in South America
- Best Airline Staff Service in South America
- Best Economy Class Cabin in South America
- Best Business Class Cabin in South America
- Best Onboard Catering in Economy Class in South America
- Best Onboard Catering in Business Class in South America
- Best Business Class Lounge in South America (Santiago)
This year, LATAM was also awarded at the APEX Passengers Choice Awards as:
- Best Airline in South America for Onboard Entertainment
- Best Food and Beverage
The airline’s standards in safety, quality, health, and environmental performance have allowed it to earn and maintain the trust of its customers on every flight they choose.
Additionally, the ethics and rigor with which they operate in every country where they have commercial operations have helped them achieve many years of uninterrupted service with minimal disruptions.
Ranking of the Best Airlines Worldwide
Globally, the airline that took first place was Qatar Airways, which has won seven awards in the 25 years that the event has been held for providing the best service to its passengers.
The comfort and modernity of its fleet, excellent menu, and audio-video experience make it deserving of this award. It also received honors such as: Best Business Class in the World, Best Airline in the Middle East, and Best Business Class Lounge in the World.
“This is a proud moment for Qatar Airways, and it is an honor for me to share this award with my fellow workers. This award is a testament to our relentless dedication to providing unmatched service and innovation. We look forward to more victories in the future,” said Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, engineer and CEO of the Qatar Airways group.
Asia was also well represented at the awards, with Singapore Airlines taking second place, known for its high-quality menu crafted by internationally renowned chefs and its excellent customer service. It had also won in the previous ranking.
Emirates, one of the most talked about in recent times, took third place for its comfortable, modern, and efficient aircraft that reach 152 destinations worldwide. Recently, it began operations in Colombia, connecting Bogotá with Dubai, with a stop in Miami, Florida, using two of its iconic aircraft: the Boeing
777-200LR and the 777-300ER, both with a capacity of 354 passengers.
These two aircraft offer the option to travel in economy, business, and first class, where they include food and beverages, entertainment services, and fully reclining, comfortable seats.
The top five were rounded out by ANA All Nippon Airways (Japan) and Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong), which cover routes to Asia, China, Europe, and North America.
The full list of the 20 best airlines according to Skytrax is as follows:
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Japan Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- EVA Air
- Air France
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Korean Air
- Hainan Airlines
- British Airways
- Fiji Airways
- Iberia
- Vistara
- Virgin Atlantic
- Lufthansa
- Etihad Airways
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
Which was the most punctual airline in Latin America in 2023?
Punctuality is one of the crucial elements for airlines, as it impacts both the company’s operations and the traveler’s experience, becoming a decisive factor in whether passengers choose them again or give them a poor rating.
It is well known that most flights include connections to other destinations, so a delay could result in missed connections and additional expenses for passengers, and sometimes even for the airline.
Therefore, when an airline receives this type of distinction, its value and reputation in the market increase, as was the case with Copa Airlines, which was recognized by CIRIUM as “The Most Punctual Airline in Latin America” in 2023, with an on-time arrival rate of 89.46% and a flight completion rate (non-cancelled flights) of 99.8%, both the highest in Latin America and ranking 3rd and 2nd globally, respectively.
«Congratulations to Copa Airlines not only for their exceptional punctuality in 2023 but also for their consistency in being Latin America’s most punctual airline not only in 2023 but in nine of the last 10 years. Their consistency is a testament to their commitment to operational excellence,» expressed Jeremy Bowen, CEO of CIRIUM.
This company evaluates the performance of 500 airlines based on the number of seats and flights, as well as the availability of seats per kilometer, categorizing them globally and nationally.
The recognition adds to the numerous awards Copa received for its excellent operational performance during 2023, including being named one of the «15 Best International Airlines» by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Without a doubt, Copa Airlines continues to consolidate its position in the market and make its mark in the ranking of the best airlines.
