Travelers who are on the fence about flying again may want to check out a new list of the world’s best airlines. The airline safety website AirlineRatings.com published its list of “Top Airlines in the World,” which traditionally ranks carriers by safety, in-flight service, passenger comfort and flight routes. But this year, new judging criteria are shaking up the rankings. For the first time, airlines are being judged in part by how they responded to the Covid-19 global pandemic. “Covid impacted the ratings in two ways,” said AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas. “Airlines had to be Covid-compliant to our standards to be considered, and we deleted profitability as a criterion this year.” Qatar Airways took the No. 1 spot this year, named “Airline of the Year” by the website. The Doha-based carrier was awarded the top prize due to its cabin innovation, in-flight service and “dedication and commitment to continue to operate throughout the Covid pandemic,” according to the site’s announcement on July 20. Qatar Airways also introduced industry firsts, AirlineRatings.com said, such as being the first to complete the IATA’s safety audit and among the first to trial its Covid Safe Travel Pass. Qatar Airways also has one of the world’s youngest fleets, the announcement said. Air New Zealand came in at second and Singapore Airlines third. Story has list.<br/>
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Qantas has settled one of multiple active age discrimination cases taken out against it after two months of mediation, for an undisclosed amount. The Australian revealed Captain Andrew Hewitt was among the 55 Qantas pilots offered an early retirement package last year at the age of 63, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airline. A long-haul captain and career Boeing 747 pilot, Captain Hewitt had risen to number four on the airline’s seniority list for its long-haul operations when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, having been with Qantas for 40 years. Qantas argued that its long-haul operations will likely not return to full capacity until Captain Hewitt is over the age of 65, at which point he would no longer be allowed to operate overseas commercial flights, under international civil aviation rules. Captain Hewitt then became one of just four of the 55 people offered early retirement to refuse the deal, and ultimately fought Qantas in the Federal Court of New South Wales, alleging age discrimination. Hewitt argued that an early retirement package left him far worse off than the redundancy packages offered to younger pilots, with his package offering four months pay as opposed to 12 months. The matter has now been settled between the two parties for an undisclosed amount, after being filed with the Federal Court in February.<br/>