Skytrax names Singapore Airlines as world's best airline for 2018

After 10 years in the wilderness -- if a premium airline that flies direct to more than 60 destinations can truly experience a wilderness -- Singapore Airlines is back on top. The Asian carrier was named Airline of the Year at the 2018 Skytrax World Airline awards, an honour it last held in 2008. It beat last year's victor, Qatar Airways, into second place. "We're very ecstatic," Yeoh Phee Teik, Singapore's senior VP of customer experience said Tuesday. The top prize in what is seen as the aviation industry's equivalent of the Oscars, was one of four awards taken home by Singapore. It also claimed best first class, best airline in Asia and best first class seat. Qatar, which held the crown in 2015, 2012 and 2011 -- as well as 2017 -- didn't leave empty handed, with the airline's Group CEO Akbar Al Baker taking to the stage to pick up award after award. The Doha-based carrier took home prizes for best business class, best airline in the Middle East and best business class seat. Story has other details.<br/>