TOP largest airlines in the world. The largest airline in the world

Throughout the development of aviation and air travel, there has been a constant increase passenger traffic in the world. New airlines are being created, old ones are updating their aircraft fleets, and constantly improving their service. Seven years ago, it was difficult to imagine wi-fi on board an aircraft, but now it is perceived as the norm. New classes of service on board are being created, "business class" and "first" are becoming more spacious and richer, even in "economy classes" airlines allocate more space for passengers. Due to the high competition in the global markets, each airline strives to be the best.

On the this moment There are more than a thousand air carriers in the world from various continents and countries. There are basic major airlines, low-cost carriers, as well as charter and cargo flights.

In order for passengers and travelers to make fewer mistakes with the choice of a carrier, numerous ratings of world, and specifically regional aviation companies are created.

What is the rating of airlines based on?

Ratings are compiled by many different sociological companies, editorial offices of aviation magazines and online publishers, as well as the best airlines maintain their top lists. Basically, all of them are based on a survey of passengers, their impressions are collected about each airline separately, service at airports and on board, and the quality of service. Safety, the number of passengers carried per year, and the reliability of ships are taken into account.

The rating is based on a survey of travelers. The questionnaire asked for their opinions on 49 items on all the details of the flight, from the company's website to the fascination of reading magazines on board and the temperature in the cabin. More than 20 million people from 105 countries were surveyed. More than 320 airlines participated in the survey.

In the latest survey for 2017, Qatar Airways topped the list. She becomes the winner for the fourth time in a row.

Rating of the best airlines in the world

According to Skytrax in 2017, the rating of air carriers looks like this:

• Qatar Airways. The Qatari air carrier leads the ranking of the world's airlines. The company was established in 1993 and is based in Doha. The fleet consists of 216 aircraft, the main models are Boeing 777 and Airbus A320.
• Singapore Airlines. In recent years, it has received a five-star rating - the highest possible among the top airlines. Founded in 1947 in Singapore. It has 115 aircraft at its disposal, mainly operates the Boeing 777.
• All Nippon Airways. Air carrier from Japan. The company was founded in 1952 and is based in Tokyo. Has a fleet of 221 aircraft. It is the main operator of the Boeing 787 model.
• Emirates Airlines. Carrier from the United United Arab Emirates, established in 1985 in Dubai. It communicates with almost all countries of the world on 261 ships, in particular on the A380 from Airbus and the 777 from Boeing. The world leader in the number of A380s in the fleet.
• Cathay Pacific. Hong Kong airline founded in 1946. It has 143 cars at its disposal. The basis is Boeing 777 and Airbus A330.
• EVA Air. Airline from Taiwan, started flights in 1989. The size of the fleet is 72 aircraft, of which the main ones are Airbus A321.
• Lufthansa. First European company on the list. It began its activity in 1955 in the city of Munich. Owns 272 ships. Of these, most are Airbus A320 and A321.
• « Etihad Airways". The state carrier from the United Arab Emirates, is located in the capital of Abu Dhabi. The fleet consists of 123 aircraft, most of which are Airbus A330s.
• Hainan Airlines. It was founded in the People's Republic of China in the city of Hainan in 1989. It operates 178 ships, of which the Boeing 737 has the absolute majority.
• Garuda Indonesia. Named after the bird of the Hindu god Vishnu, the company began flying in 1949 in Indonesia. Manages 142 aircraft, among which the Boeing 737 has the majority.
• Thai Airways. The airline operating in Bangkok since 1957 owns 76 aircraft. The leading positions are occupied by the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777.
• "Turkish Airlines". Founded in 1933 in Istanbul, they operate 295 ships. The Boeing 737 is the number one.
• Virgin Australia. The very first Australian carrier on the list. It was founded in 2000 in Brisbane by the famous millionaire Richard Branson. Operates 84 aircraft.
• Swiss International Airlines. Swiss airline based in Zurich. Date of establishment - 2002. Operates 75 aircraft.
• Qantas Airlines from Australia, Sydney. Works since 1920. The size of the fleet consists of 123 vessels.
• Japan Airlines, operating since 1951 and based in Tokyo. The fleet consists of 160 aircraft.
• Austrian Airlines from Vienna, founded in 1957 and has 80 aircraft in operation.
• Air France. Works since 1933 in Paris. Today it owns 224 ships.
• New Zealand Airlines. Based in the city of Auckland, they operate 56 aircraft.
• Asiana Airlines from South Korea, based in Seoul. Started flying in 1988. Operates 82 aircraft.

The best airlines from the United Arab Emirates, Emirates Airlines.

Rating of the largest air carriers in Europe

You can also single out the largest airlines in Europe. Russia is represented in it in ninth place, it was taken by Aeroflot. European airlines do not lead common list the best, but take pride of place. Passengers are most attracted by the quality of service on board, the attitude of the staff and punctuality. Airlines from the Old World prefer to use aircraft of a local manufacturer from Airbus in the fleet.

Board of Austrian Airlines landing.

• Lufthansa;
• Turkish Airlines;
• Swiss International Airlines;
• Austrian Airlines;
• Air France;
• Finnair;
• Norwegian Airlines;
• Aeroflot;
• Virgin Atlantic.

Trends in the development of world airlines

The main trends in the coming years will continue to be a decrease in the price of air tickets and an increase in passenger traffic. This mainly applies to airlines from Europe, which prefer not to inflate the price of a ticket, but work with a large flow of people. Accordingly, their flights are mostly full. Also, Europe prefers to work on a nodal system, that is, flights are short and with transfers, while American carriers focus on non-stop point-to-point flights. Accordingly, in the Old World it is necessary to develop and expand airports in order to receive a large number of transit passengers, and in America the main thing is an increase in the size and range of aircraft for non-stop flights.

Such a development system leaves its mark on the aircraft industry. Since European carriers prefer their Airbus, the emphasis is on the construction of wide-body big liners to transport as many passengers as possible over a short distance. Whereas in America they prefer Boeing and the stake is on narrow-body, economical liners, which are designed for long-distance flights without transfers.

Also in Lately almost all airlines are trying to reorient themselves or create their own low-cost subsidiaries to reduce prices and increase passenger traffic.

Important! Compiling airline ratings is a very important task as it makes it easier for the passenger to select the desired carrier for their travel. The big plus of these ratings is that the travelers themselves are surveyed and indicate what they liked or not in a particular airline.

Skytrax, which specializes in the study of the quality of services of various air carriers and airports, has released an annual rating of the best airlines in the world. When compiling it, the impressions of over 19 million travelers from 105 countries of the world were taken into account. The survey, which covered more than 325 airlines, contained 49 parameters ranging from cabin comfort to service quality. Here are the top 10 airlines in the world, according to a Skytrax survey.

This carrier has recently undertaken a major fleet renewal aircraft and greatly improved the quality of service. The pilots did not remain deprived either, they were given more comfortable chairs.

And Garuda flight attendants in 2017 received an award as the best flight attendants in the world. They have been awarded this title for the second year in a row.

9. Hainan Airlines, China

Founded in 1993, Hainan Airlines is the only Chinese airline to have been awarded the coveted five stars by Skytrax. Three short years it moved from 22nd place to 9th position in the top of the world's best air carriers. It operates over 160 aircraft and is rapidly expanding into Asia, Europe and Australia. Skytrax reviewers praised Hainan Airlines for its responsive service and business class comfort. The company also earned the title of the best airline in China and received the award for the best airline staff service in China.

8. Etihad Airways, United Arab Emirates

Air carrier from Abu Dhabi won awards for the world's best first class in 2017, best places in first class and the best service in first class. Some of the features of being on board Etihad include the use of noise canceling headphones and dimming the lights to keep passengers well rested.

7 Lufthansa, Germany

In recent years, the German airline had to significantly "shrink" in the budget. Fortunately, this did not affect the service and the overall quality of the service. And to achieve best results Skytrax recommends adding newer A380s and 748-8s to the fleet.

Lufthansa took first place as the best European airline and for an excellent first class restaurant.

6. EVA Air, Taiwan

It was EVA Air that became the pioneer by creating a premium economy class on the Boeing 777. Skytrax awarded the Taiwanese air carrier the prize for the cleanest cabins in the world and the most comfortable business class.

5. Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong

Although the Hong Kong-based airline lost one point from its 2016 rankings, it still maintains its place as one of the most respected air carriers in the Pacific region. Having at your disposal big park Boeing 777-300ER and offering high frequency flights, Cathay is one of the best Asian companies. Skytrax reviewers are pleased with Cathay's comfortable seats, quality of service, and in-flight entertainment. However, there were also negative reviews due to congestion and unstable weather at the Cathay base in Hong Kong.

4. Emirates, Dubai

Over the past 30 years, Emirates has become one of the world's leading long-haul airlines. The airline's entertainment system includes a huge selection of movies, music and games, on demand and in multiple languages. There will be something to do during the flight and for children, they are given pencils, coloring books and soft toys.

For 13 consecutive years, Emirates has been a leader in the " the best entertainment aboard".

3. All Nippon Airways, Japan

Skytrax has awarded ANA employees the title of “Best Personnel in Asia”, which means that the airline has demonstrated high quality services in the air and on the ground after greeting passengers at the airport. The Japanese are renowned for their courtesy and respect for other people, but at ANA, customers can expect amazing friendliness from the staff, a positive atmosphere at the airport, and pleasant flights with folding seats and USB ports, even in economy class.

2. Singapore Airlines, Singapore

In terms of such parameters as the overall quality of service, seat comfort, and the attitude of flight attendants Singapore Airlines, as a rule, is annually among the leaders at the World Airline Awards.

Personal TVs with lots of entertainment programs and hot towels instead of the usual lollipops before takeoff are just some of the advantages of Singapore Airlines. The base of the air carrier is Changi Airport, which has not given the title to competitors for five years in a row. best airport in the world according to Skytrax. Singapore Airlines is the best airline in Asia, with awards for the best premium economy class and unrivaled seating comfort in business class.

1. Qatar Airways, Qatar

After falling to second place in 2016, the Qatari air carrier has managed to regain the title of "most best airline in the world". Reviewers praised the very comfortable seats and interesting entertainment that brightened up long flights.

The airline offers more than 150 destinations worldwide and is constantly expanding its fleet to include the latest generation long haul airliners, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350. Qatar Airways has also won awards for Best Airline in the Middle East and Excellent Business Class.

Top 10 World Airlines 2017 (Infographic)

The holiday season is approaching, which means that the demand for air carrier services will increase significantly. Fear of flying leads many travelers to choose an airline primarily based on safety ratings.

Over the past 16 years, the auditing company Jacdec (Germany) has been ranking the most safe airlines peace. Since 2018, the Safety Risk Index has been used instead of the Safety Index used for 15 years.

To determine the indicator, the following data are considered:

• Information on incidents (accidents, catastrophes) for the last 30 years, taking into account the number of passengers carried and the total distance of flights. The presence of incidents that did not lead to an accident during the same period of time. The number of aircraft lost beyond recovery.
• Various performance indicators of the airline, including the age of the aircraft, security checks by international organizations (IOSA, IKAO).
• Additional factors (state of airport infrastructure, weather conditions).

• Emirates;
• Norwegian;
• Virgin Atlantic;
• Easy Jet;
• Finnair;
• Eithad Airways;
• Spirit Airlines;
• Jetstar Airways;
• Air Arabia.

The Russian company Aeroflot occupies 73rd place out of 100 in this list.

Swiss agency specialists air transport(ATRA) believe that one of the main criteria (there are 15 in total) when compiling a safety rating should be considered the degree of training of pilots and controllers. According to 2014 data, among the leaders are airlines Air China, Delta Air Line, Air France KLM Group, US Airways Group.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has developed its own safety and reliability assessment system - the SAFA coefficient. To determine it, aircraft landing in the EU are checked for 54 items. If a certain value of the coefficient is exceeded, the airlines are taken under special control of the European Commission. Research data is not publicly available.

How to choose an airline in terms of safety

If for the first time you are puzzled by the choice of an air carrier, information about their types and varieties of flights will not be superfluous.

Airline types

• Long-haul. Flights lasting 6 or more hours are carried out.
• Medium-haul. Their route network is dominated by flights that take less than 6 hours.
• Semi-discounters. Attract passengers with tickets at a lower price than medium-haul companies. At the same time, in-flight meals are offered for an additional fee, there are restrictions on the amount of luggage.
• Low-cost airlines. Offered low prices for tickets excluding additional services. Thus, the cost of baggage, for example, may be equal to the amount paid for the ticket. The carrier has the right to cancel any flight. When choosing a discounter company, you need to weigh the pros and cons so that the benefit of a low flight price is not leveled by the lack of services that are important to you.

Flight types

• One way (one or more flights);
• Both ends. The journey starts and ends at the same point, passes along the same route on the aircraft of the same company.
• Round. In the opposite direction, they fly in a different way or on an aircraft of another carrier.

Passenger service classes

• First;
• Business Class;
• Economic class.

Differ in comfort seats, the size of baggage carried without payment, the quality of the menu, the availability of additional services.

Both “classic” and low-cost carriers have their own leaders, who are very popular with passengers, known for their reliability and level of service, leading the top lines of various ratings. If we talk about global air carriers, then these are, for example, Lufthansa, Emirates, Air France - KLM, AirNew Zeland, VirginAtlantic. When planning budget flights, you should pay attention to the airlines AirAsia, Ryanair, EasyJet, Germanwings, Red Wings, Pobeda.

It would be useful to familiarize yourself with the global airline safety rating, as well as domestic Russian reviews and studies.

An important criterion for the safety of the carrier is the age of the aircraft, the smaller it is, the better (although with proper maintenance, aircraft can serve for many years, according to statistics, accidents occur more often with older models). For those who understand the topic, Additional information for reflection can be extracted, knowing the type of aircraft. For example, the Boeing 767 is designed to carry up to 240 passengers, which can be significant if you don't like a crowded society.

Rating of the safest airlines in Russia and the world

Note: The “Average Price” section provides an example of the cost of a flight to one of the popular destinations.

Russian Airlines

In our country, air transportation services in Russia and around the world are carried out by more than 70 companies, both private and public.

Ural Airlines

Headquarters: Yekaterinburg.

The company's aircraft fleet includes 44 aircraft of various sizes, the average age of which is 12 years. The air carrier carries out intercity and international flights in 183 directions. Since the start of operations, there have been three incidents that did not result in loss of life due to the experience of the pilots. The company has an IOSA certificate confirming compliance with international safety standards.

Advantages:

• Electronic registration;
• There is bonus program"Wings";
• A fleet renewal program is underway;
• System of special offers;
• Aircraft maintenance on a tight schedule;
• Regular courses to improve the skills of pilots.

Flaws:

• Flight delays and cancellations;
• There are user complaints about the incorrect operation of the online ticketing service;
• Some passengers find small portions of food.

Average price: flight Moscow-Bangkok (Thailand): 22,030 rubles.

Aeroflot - Russian Airlines

Headquarters: Moscow.

The company was founded in 1923. The fleet consists of 232 aircraft (average age is 4 years). Aviation consulting company Skytrax awarded Aeroflot 4 stars for the level of service (2016). Since the activity of the air carrier, there have been only 4 disasters. The route network includes destinations in Russia, the CIS and different parts of the world (including Thailand, China, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Spain, which are popular with our compatriots).

Advantages:

• Aeroflot Bonus incentive program;
• Good feedback from users about the professionalism of the crew and the quality of service;
• One of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world;
• Special services for persons with disabilities;
• It is possible to pre-order special meals.

Flaws:

• There are cases of lost luggage;
• Cases of cancellation of flights without prior notification of passengers;
• Complaints about the quality of service at the airport, the complexity of resolving disputes;
• Long response time to claims.

Average price: Flight Moscow-Bangkok (Thailand) - 14,058 rubles.

Headquarters: Novosibirsk region, Ob.

Founded in 1992 on the basis of the Tolmachevsky united air squadron. The fleet consists of 80 aircraft, the average age of which is 8 years. During the company's activity, three resonant air crashes occurred. It carries out domestic and international flights to more than 130 destinations (CIS countries, Europe, the Middle East and Asia). After passing the relevant procedures for compliance with security standards, the company is included in the list of IOSA operators.

Advantages:

• Lot good reviews about the professionalism of the pilots;
• Online Services;
• Frequent Flyer Incentive Program;
• Current member of IATA (International Air Transport Association);
• Wide network of flights across Russia.

Flaws:

• There are negative reviews about the quality of service on board.

Average price: flight Moscow-Bangkok (Thailand) - 14,083 rubles.

Headquarters: Tyumen.

The company has been leading its history since 1967. It performs not only passenger, but also freight transportation including helicopters. Carries out air transportation in Russia and abroad. The air fleet includes 65 aircraft, the average age is 15.4 years. The number of accidents during the operation of the air carrier is 8, with 80 dead.

Advantages:

• Positive feedback on the professionalism of the pilots;
• Friendly service;
• Cheap tickets;
• Utair Status Loyalty Program.

Flaws:

• There are negative reviews about the service at check-in;
• There are complaints about the work of the call center;

Average price: Moscow-Berlin: 6,308 rubles. (standard economy).

Foreign airlines

Headquarters: Dubai.

One of the largest airlines in the world. It began to transport people by air in 1985. There are 261 aircraft in the fleet. In the Russian direction, it operates flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Advantages:

• High level of service;
• New planes;
• Polite staff;
• Tasty food;
• Ice entertainment system;
• It is convenient to fly to Thailand.

Flaws:

• There are complaints from users about the loss of luggage.

Average price: Moscow-Barcelona flight - 79,340 rubles. (with transfer in Dubai).

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Headquarters: Forneby (Oslo).

Budget airline. The air fleet consists of 117 aircraft. In Russia, it operates flights to St. Petersburg. In total, the route list includes 120 destinations around the world, connecting Europe with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

Advantages:

• New planes;
• Low prices;
• Profitable to fly to Europe;
• Good level of service.

Flaws:

• Not found yet.

Average price: flight Riga-Barcelona - 258.20 dollars.

Virgin Atlantic Airways

The company specializes in long and medium distance flights to 31 destinations (Africa, North America, Middle East, Asia, Caribbean, Australia). The air fleet is equipped with 37 aircraft.

Advantages:

• High level of service;
• Good nutrition;
• Polite staff.

Flaws:

• Economy class has small seats, according to some passengers.

Average price: Dubai-London flight - 42,330 rubles. (Economy class).

Headquarters: Amsterdam.

This Dutch airline was founded back in 1919. It is currently part of the Air-France-KLM holding. It operates both domestic and international flights, including flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The company's aircraft fleet consists of 117 units. There are about 150 destinations in the route network.

Advantages:

• Good level of service;
• Polite staff;
• Included in aviation alliance sky team.

Flaws:

• There are cases of lost luggage.

Average price: Flight Moscow-Madrid (with a transfer in Amsterdam) - 17,402 rubles.

Easy Jet Airline Company Limited

Headquarters: Luton.

One of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe (low-cost airlines). Founded in 1995. The air fleet consists of 280 aircraft. V route network the company included more than 600 flights.

Advantages:

• Cheap tickets can be purchased;
• New planes;
• Lots of flights in Europe.

Flaws:

• There are cases of damage to luggage;
• Meals on the way for a fee;
• Doesn't fly to Russia.

Average price: Flight Amsterdam - Lisbon - 77.23 euros.

Headquarters: Vantaa (Finland).

This Finnish airline has been operating by air since 1923. Since 1963, no fatal accidents have been recorded and not a single aircraft has been lost. The company operates domestic and international flights, including to Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Samara). The air fleet consists of 71 aircraft.

Advantages:

• High level of safety and reliability;
• Convenient flight schedule;
• Favorable prices with pre-purchased tickets;
• Polite flight attendants;
• When transporting an animal, you can take it into the cabin.

Flaws:

• There are no free meals on short flights.

Average price: Flight St. Petersburg-Barcelona - 26,414 rubles.

The plane is considered the safest mode of transport. Not all passengers suffer from aerophobia, but probably everyone feels a different degree of excitement during the flight. To reduce the level of anxiety, it is useful to look at the ratings of reliable airlines, if possible, choose a carrier with a name and history that invests in updating the air fleet and cares about the comfort and safety of passengers.

Air travel safety is one of the most important factors. The reliability of an air carrier is determined by the absence of accidents in recent years, passenger traffic, EASA certification (European Aviation Safety Agency) and membership in the international organizations IOSA and ICAO.

Last year, the domestic air carrier Transaero entered the top 20 world aviation leaders in terms of reliability and safety, and occupied the first position in the Russian rating. But in October 2015, the company ceased operations due to bankruptcy. For this reason, Transaero is not included in the TOP-10.

Russian Federation for Flight Reliability and Safety 2015 compiled according to EASA.

25 aircraft

» (ROSSIYA Airlines) - the domestic air carrier opens the top ten the safest airlines our country at the end of last year. Rossiya is part of the Aeroflot group of companies. In 2014, Rossiya took the fifth position in the ranking of the largest Russian airlines. In 2013, at the Wings of Russia ceremony, she was awarded the Best Passenger Carrier for Regional Destinations. The size of the fleet includes 25 aircraft. Average age aircraft is 13 years old.

20 aircraft

» (Nordwind Airlines) is a charter airline created by the largest tour operator PegasTouristik. It is engaged in the implementation of flights to holiday countries. In 2013, it entered the top 10 Russian air carriers. In terms of safety and reliability, Nordwind Airlines did not enter the top 100 in the world ranking, but managed to maintain its position in the top ten in the domestic ranking. The air fleet consists of 20 aircraft. The average age of air transport is 14.1 years.

19 aircraft

"(ORENAIR Airlines) is a subsidiary of Aeroflot. At the end of 2013, the air carrier was awarded "Charter Passenger Carrier", "Airline of the Year - Passenger Sympathy" - 1st place, "Airline of the Year - Domestic Passenger Carrier" - 3rd place. The air fleet consists of 19 Boening 737-800 and Boening 777-200 aircraft. The average age of transport is 10.8 years.

11 aircraft

”(Red Wings Airlines) is the only domestic air carrier that operates Russian-made aircraft. The air fleet includes modern 6 Tu-204 aircraft developed at the plant of A.N. Tupolev, and 5 aircraft with the name Sukhoi Superjet 100, developed at the Yu.A. Gagarin. The average age of air transport is 6.6 years.

26 aircraft

« Aviation transport company "Yamal"» (YAMAL Airlines) is the main air carrier in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District and the Tyumen Region. YAMAL Airlines was certified by IATA (International Air Transport Association) in 2013, confirming its reliability and safety of flights. In 2014, the company won three awards: “Best Airline of the Year – Domestic Passenger Carrier”, “Airline of the Year – Helicopter Operator” and “Best Passenger Carrier on Regional Routes”. The air carrier did not enter the first hundred of the world safety rating, but took 6th place in the Russian rating. The fleet includes 26 aircraft, the average age of which is 13.7 years.

13 aircraft

”(Globus) is one of the youngest airlines, formed on the basis of the Siberia ships (S7 Airlines). The company places particular emphasis on flight safety and reliability. To do this, the security system is regularly tested and constantly improved. Globus cooperates with many travel agencies. Making flights on tourist routes- the main activity of the air carrier. The Globus fleet consists of S7 Airlines aircraft and includes 13 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The average age of aircraft is 8.9 years.

68 aircraft

"" (UTair) is one of the largest Russian airlines, which is one of the five largest in terms of passenger traffic. Although UTair was not included in the top 100 safest carriers in the world, it took an honorable fourth place in the national rating. UTair was awarded in 2014 in the Best Passenger Carrier on Regional Routes nomination. Flight personnel regularly undergo advanced training. The fleet includes 68 aircraft and 145 helicopters. The average age of transport is 11.8 years.

58 aircraft

« Siberia Airlines» (S7 Airlines) is one of the three largest and safest airlines in Russia in 2015. S7 Airlines has won numerous competitions. In 2015, the air carrier received the National Geographic Traveler Awards 2015, winning in the Best Russian Airline nomination. Among the world's air carriers, Siberia took 94th place in the safety and reliability rating. The air fleet includes Airbuses and Boeings, the total number of which is 58 units. The average service life of air transport is 9 years.

35 aircraft

(Ural Airlines) is one of the leading Russian airlines in terms of reliability and safety. In 2014 Ural Airlines were awarded triple honors for Domestic Passenger Carrier Airline of the Year, International Scheduled Airline of the Year and E-Commerce Leading Airline of the Year. In terms of passenger traffic, the company took 6th place among Russian air carriers. The average service life of the aircraft fleet is 12.5 years. The fleet size is currently 35 air units. Ural Airlines has a gym, which is designed to train flight crews. Here, pilots are trained according to individual programs, improving their professional skills to improve safe flights. The gym owned by the air carrier is the only one in Russia. Only the best airlines, such as Emirates, Lufthanza and others, have such equipment in the world.

167 aircraft

(Aeroflot) - ranks first in terms of safety and reliability among Russian air carriers. At the end of 2015, he took the 35th position in terms of air safety in the world ranking of the independent German agency Jacdec. Aeroflot has also been repeatedly recognized as the best airline in Eastern Europe. The fleet includes 167 aircraft. This is one of the youngest air parks in Europe and the world. The average age of aircraft is 4.5 years. During the Winter Olympic Games in 2014, Aeroflot acted as the official air carrier.

In the world every year there is an increasing number of companies engaged in passenger and cargo air transportation. There is a constant competition between them. Each air carrier strives to improve the quality of its service in order to attract as many customers as possible. Every year, various organizations, based on a survey of passengers or expert opinion, make an assessment and form the ratings of air carriers. The main evaluation criteria are the size of the carrier, the quality of service and safety.

First passenger airlines

The German company DELAG, founded in 1909, is the first passenger airline. The flights of this company were carried out on Zeppelin airships. The steward first appeared on board the airship LZ 10 Schwaben in 1911.

The well-known company KLM, founded in 1919, is the oldest airline. The oldest destination in the world is Amsterdam - London, completed on the De Havilland DH-16 airliner. At the same time, it is the very first route direction of KLM. This flight was first made by pilot Jerry Shaw and two journalists as passengers in 1920. Due to the open design of the cabins, passengers were given warm clothes and helmets. At the time, DH-16s were the highest quality airliners. Their speed developed up to 150 km / h, the duration of the flight to London was almost three hours *.

Note. Nowadays, more than 400 passenger seats, their speed develops up to 1000 km / h.

The most reliable airlines

The British company Skytrax, carrying out an annual assessment of airlines, in December conducted a study of more than 325 carriers, interviewing several million people from more than 100 nationalities. Based on the results of the evaluation, the best air carriers were awarded the World Airline Awards Skytra 2017. This is a very honorable award in the aviation industry, distinguished by the clarity of the evaluation method in determining the nominees.

The top 20 best air carriers of 2017 according to Skytrax are:

1. Qatar Airways;
2. Singapore Airlines;
3. ANA All Nippon Airways;
4. Emirates;
5. Cathay Pacific;
6. EVA Air;
7. Lufthansa;
8. Etihad Airways;
9. Hainan Airlines;
10. Garuda Indonesia;
11. Thai Airways;
12. Turkish Airlines;
13. Virgin Australia;
14. Swiss Int'l Air Lines;
15. Qantas Airways;
16. Japan Airlines;
17. Austrian;
18. Air France;
19. Air New Zealand;
20. Asia Airlines.

The top best low-cost airlines in 2017 according to Skytrax included:

1. AirAsia;
2. Norwegian;
3. jetBlue Airways;
4. easyJet;
5. Virgin America;
6. Jetstar Airways;
7. AirAsiaX;
8. Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras;
9. Southwest Airlines;
10. Indigo.

Flight safety

According to technical specifications and statistics, airliners are the most safe view transport.

Here are just a few facts about this air transport:

• an airliner flies in the air as confidently as a car drives along a highway, and a ship sails in the sea;
• all aircraft systems have duplicates, and some of them have up to 3 spare duplicates;
• a passenger aircraft is equipped with at least 2 engines, the probability of failure of all engines at the same time is almost zero;
• the engine costs several million dollars, therefore it is under special control, it is well serviced;
• all air crashes occur due to a combination of circumstances, and not because of one reason, each incident is thoroughly investigated to prevent its reoccurrence;
• Every year, the total passenger traffic increases by 10%, and the number of accidents decreases by 15%.

The safest airlines

One of the most effective methods for determining the safety of air travel is now considered the safety index used by Jacdec, a company specializing in audits. When calculating the index, it uses 8 parameters, including accidents, passenger traffic and the length of air travel over the past 3 decades, as well as the results of audits conducted by IOSA and ICAO. Of the air carriers of the Russian Federation in the list of Jacdec 2017, Aeroflot is in 37th place.

1. Cathay Pacific Airways;
2. Air New Zealand;
3. Hawaiian Airlines;
4. Qatar Airways;
5. EVA Air;
6. Emirates;
7. Etihad Airways;
8. Qantas;
9. Japan Airlines;
10. All Nippon Airways;
11. Lufthansa;
12. TAP Portugal;
13. Virgin Atlantic;
14. Delta Air Lines;
15. Air Canada;
16. JetBlue Airlines;
17. Virgin Australia;
18. british airways;
19. Air Berlin.

Airline service

The service provided by air carriers is divided into several levels.

The owners of the most expensive air tickets are first-class passengers, respectively, they receive the greatest privileges: a cozy waiting area for boarding, a more convenient check-in procedure and delivery to the airliner in a business class car or limousine, a wide range of menus, sometimes beds in separate compartments of the airliner, special care of the flight attendants.

Similar privileges for business class passengers, including the right to change the date of departure without additional payment and a refund of 100% of the ticket price if necessary*. Business class is present on those flights where there is no first class.

Service and comfort in the most economy class differs from different airlines, but, at a minimum, includes a chair with a folding table and a pocket, soft and hot drinks.

Note. The difference between business and economy class for some carriers is only in the menu and courteous attitude towards passengers.

Which airline and aircraft to choose

To choose an air carrier and an airliner, before the upcoming flight, many people study various websites and ratings of the best airlines. These top lists change every year and are not completely identical across analytics sites. They are compiled on the basis of objective opinions of experts and feedback from passengers. The latter are polled, as a rule, through questionnaires on sites that track the rating of air carriers. The largest carriers in the world are evaluated using several criteria.

Airline and Aircraft Evaluation Criteria

700 or more criteria can be used to evaluate air carriers and aircraft.

The most important of them are:

• interior condition - sanitation, design, general impression;
• the comfort of the seats - how soft and spacious the seats are, are the head restraints comfortable, etc.;
• crew work - the manner of communication, the attractiveness and neatness of the form of flight attendants, the skill of pilots, which is especially evident during takeoffs and landings;
• check-in for the flight and boarding passengers on board - the efficiency and coordination of the work of the airline's employees during this procedure;
• food - variety and quality of food during the voyage;
• leisure organization - many airlines do not pay much attention to the entertainment of passengers during the flight, especially low-cost carriers;
• online services - ticket booking, electronic registration etc.

Rating of safe airlines in Russia (list 2017)

In total, there are 80 air carriers in Russia, including Ural Airlines, Azur Air("Azur Air"), Vim Avia ("Vim Avia") and others. The most famous among Russian airlines is Aeroflot (Aeroflot).

According to the results of the assessment by the Aviaport agency, conducted at the end of last year, the rating of Russian airlines in terms of flight reliability and safety 2017 was published. The assessment covered more than 20 carriers operating domestic flights in Russia. The evaluation compared the service of airlines on domestic and international routes.

1. "Aeroflot";
2. S7 Airlines;
3. "Russia";
4. "UTair";
5. "Ural Airlines";
6. "Victory";
7. "The globe";
8. Azura Air.

Which airlines are the most reliable in Russia according to passengers

The opinion of passengers about Russian airlines can be found on the website https://www.tutu.ru/. This travel service invites passengers to rate their impression of the airline on a 10-point scale. Passengers leave their opinion the next day after the flight by filling out a questionnaire and writing a comment in any form. Thus, anyone visiting Tutu.ru can see the current rating of airlines based on the ratings of 10,000 passengers.

top top airlines in Russia according to passengers*:

1. "Aeroflot";
2. S7 Airlines;
3. "Russia";
4. "Yamal";
5. "Nordavia";
6. "Ural Airlines";
7. "Yakutia";
8. "UTair";
9. "North wind";
10. "Victory".

The best in the opinion of passengers are Aeroflot, which scored 9.4 points, S7 Airlines with its own 9.2 points, Rossiya and Yamal, which received 9.1 points each from passengers, and Nordavia with 9 points.

After reviewing the ratings of the airline on various analytical sites and determining which of them are recognized as the best and safest according to experts and passengers in 2017, it will not be difficult to choose a reliable air carrier for travel.