22 Jul 2021 Qatar Airlines has been named Airline of the Year for 2021 in AirlineRatings.com’s coveted Airline Excellence Awards. The Doha-based airline nudged out Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines for the top spot followed by Qantas, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific. AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas said Qatar was being honoured for its innovation, product and industry leadership, as well as its extraordinary commitment to keeping the world’s critical long-haul air routes open during COVID-19. “The airline has a host of industry firsts. First to complete IATA’s important IOSA safety audit, first to be fully COVID audited and compliant by both AirlineRatings and Skytrax, and amongst the first to trial IATA’s COVID Safe Travel Pass,” he said.