Qatar heads the list as region's airlines scoop Skytrax awards

In total, Qatar Airways won three awards – World’s Best Business Class, which it has now won three times and two years consecutively; Best Airline in the Middle East for the eighth time; and Best Business Class Airline Lounge for the second time consecutively.

The overall best airline was Cathay Pacific.

But no fewer than five of the region's airlines were in the top 10. Emirates was voted fourth, just behind Singapore Airlines. Turkish Airlines was fifth - and also took the award as Europe's best airline for the second year.

Emirates was also voted top for the world's best provider of in-flight entertainment.

Etihad - despite its public spat with Skytrax and its demand to be removed from the Skytrax listings - was voted ninth best airline.

Commenting on the awards the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker said: "Qatar Airways is focused on providing the best quality product and service for our passengers, and we are very proud to have Skytrax recognise our airline, our people and our products via these awards. We strive to set the highest standards in the global airline industry and our young fleet helps us deliver the finest five-star service in the sky."

Qatar's Al Baker collects the award at Skytrax event at Farnborough

Turkish chief executive Dr Temel Kotil celebrates as Europe's number one.

Emirates' Patrick Brannelly picks up the award for the best in-flight entertainment