When you travel by air, you want the journey to be smooth, stress-free, and comfortable, with top-notch service all the way. While not every flight can offer the same level of comfort or customer service, some airlines really stand out in making air travel a great experience.
Skytrax, an internationally recognized organization that assesses airlines worldwide, recently unveiled its report of the World’s Top 100 Airlines. Notably, African airlines demonstrated a commendable performance.
Branded as the passenger’s choice award, the 2023-2024 survey included assessments of more than 325 airlines and involved participation from over 100 nationalities of customers from September 2023 to May 2024.
For the survey, participants were asked to nominate their preferred airline or the one they deemed the best, providing ratings that reflected their satisfaction with various aspects of the travel experience, both at the airport and onboard.
Ethiopian Airlines won the best airline on the continent for 2024 for the seventh consecutive year.
“At Ethiopian Airlines, our unwavering dedication to customer-centric innovation has been pivotal to our success. We remain at the forefront of the aviation industry by continually adopting cutting-edge technology to elevate our passengers’ experience,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, said.
Below are 10 of the best performing airlines in Africa according to Skytrax:
1.Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines is the flag carrier of Ethiopia, established in 1945. It’s known for its extensive network and is Africa’s largest airline. It is one of the few airlines to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which offers passengers a more comfortable and eco-friendly flying experience.
2.Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc, the national carrier of Morocco, was founded in 1953 and has since played a significant role in connecting Morocco with the world. Royal Air Maroc operates flights to over 90 destinations in over 50 countries.
3.South African Airways
South African Airways is a renowned airline that has been connecting people to destinations across the globe since 1934. It operates flights to over 40 international destinations across the world, including major cities like London, New York, Hong Kong, and Sydney.
4.Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways, also known by its IATA code KQ, has been proudly representing Kenya since its establishment in 1977. The airline boasts a fleet of more than 40 aircraft, including Boeing and Embraer jets, ensuring safe and comfortable journeys for its passengers.
5.RwandAir
As Rwanda’s official airline, RwandAir has solidified its reputation as a dependable and passenger-focused carrier. Boasting a fleet of more than 12 aircraft and an extensive route network spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, RwandAir ensures a smooth and enjoyable travel journey for its customers.
6.Air Mauritius
Established in 1967, Air Mauritius is the national airline of Mauritius. Air Mauritius operates flights to over 20 destinations worldwide, including major cities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Indian Ocean region.
7.Egyptair
EGYPTAIR is among the world’s aviation trailblazers. Founded in May 1932, it was the seventh airline globally. It serves over 80 destinations worldwide, encompassing Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
8.Airlink
Airlink is a regional airline headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, specializing in connecting smaller, underserved towns with larger hub airports. The airline boasts a fleet of over 68 aircraft and serves more than 45 destinations across 15 African countries, including St Helena Island. Annually, it operates over 70,000 scheduled flights, catering to more than 3 million customers.
9.LIFT
Lift Airline is a relatively new entrant in the African aviation sector, established to offer a fresh and innovative approach to air travel within the continent. Based in South Africa, Lift commenced operations in December 2020, and quickly garnered attention for its customer-centric model and flexibility.
Lift operates a modern fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, known for their efficiency and passenger comfort. With up to 20 daily flights‚ 3 major destinations and a Premium‚ business-class inspired offering‚ LIFT caters to every kind of traveller.
10.FlySafair
FlySafair took flight in October 2014, yet its parent company, Safair, boasts a remarkable 50-year legacy. This low-cost South African airline is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company boasts a fleet of 22 aircraft, comprising five B734 classics and the remaining as B738 NGs.
