Skytrax released the World’s Top 100 Airlines for 2021, and Ethiopian Airlines remains the best African airline in 2021. Customer surveys were collected over a 23-month period, from September 2019 to July 2021, and included a mix of normal and pandemic travel times.. While the pandemic prompted certain airline positions to change in comparison to 2019, a few key carriers remained at the top of the rankings.
African Airlines continue to provide high-quality services to passengers. According to Skytrax, the following are the top 5 African airlines for 2021/22:
1. Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines is widely regarded as one of the most successful African airlines. As a result, the airline has received numerous awards from airline insiders for its services and planes. Ethiopian Airlines became a member of the Star Alliance in December 2011, the world’s largest global airline alliance. Founded on 14 May 1997. Ethiopian Airlines also received the 2018 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award, which is a significant achievement in the industry.
Ethiopian Airlines’ hub and headquarters are located at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, from which it serves a network of 125 passenger destinations, 20 of which are domestic, and 44 freighter destinations. Ethiopian is Africa’s largest airline In terms of passengers carried, destinations served, fleet size, and revenue. Ethiopian Airlines is also the world’s fourth largest airline in terms of the number of countries served.
2. South African Airways
South African Airways (SAA) is South Africa’s flag carrier and one of the largest airlines on the African continent, with hubs in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The carrier is entirely owned by the South African government and operates a large network of domestic as well as international services to North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. In 2006, SAA became a member of the Star Alliance.
According to Skytrax, South African Airways is Certified as a 4-Star Airline for the quality of its airport and onboard product and staff service. Product rating includes seats, amenities, food & beverages, IFE, cleanliness etc, and service rating is for both cabin staff and ground staff.
3. Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways is the country’s flag carrier airline. Its main hub is at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Kenya Airways has two service classes: Economy and Premier World.
Kenya Airways is one of Africa’s largest airlines, with flights to popular destinations all over the world. Since its inception, the airline has developed immensely and continues to thrive across the African sky.
With a team of cheerful and helpful staff, it’s no surprise that Kenya Airways earned the World Travel Award for Africa’s Leading Airline in 2016 and 2017
4. Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc is the largest airline in Morocco. The airline was formed in July 1953 by the merger of Air Maroc and Air Atlas. The airline’s headquarters are located near the Moroccan city of Casablanca at Casablanca-Anfa Airport, but its primary hub airport is Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport.
Royal Air Maroc is also known as RAM, the Airline flies to over 100 destinations worldwide, including Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, and occasional charter flights that include Hajj services.
5. Air Mauritius
Air Mauritius is the flag carrier airline of Mauritius. The airline’s headquarters are in Port Louis, Mauritius, with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport serving as its hub.
Air Mauritius began operations in 1972 and is the fourth largest carrier in Sub-Saharan Africa. Passengers can fly directly to 23 destinations and connect to over 100 more through the airline’s partners.
On April 22, 2020, the board of directors decided to place the company under voluntary administration after coronavirus-related disruptions rendered the airline unable to meet its financial obligations for the foreseeable future. The pandemic had a major impact on the company’s revenue while it was attempting to change its business model in order to address existing financial problems. The company continues to operate; this decision was made to protect the company and its stakeholders’ interests.