India’s full-service carrier Vistara has won the ‘Best Airline in India and Southern Asia’ award for the second time in a row at the coveted Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022 in London, UK, on Friday (23).
Vistara was also awarded for the ‘Best Airline Staff Service in India and Southern Asia’ for the fourth consecutive year; the ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and Southern Asia’ for the second time in a row; and the ‘Best Business Class in India and Southern Asia’.
The airline was voted for by travellers globally, as the World Airline Awards were based on the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey of more than 14 million travellers, for the period between September 2021 and August 2022.
The airline has moved eight places up from last year to reach the 20th position worldwide -- marking the occasion when it entered into the world’s Top 20 list for the first time.
Vistara was also ranked 20th in the list of World's 'Best Economy Class Airlines' and ninth in the list of 'Best Airlines in Asia 2022'.
Vistara's chief executive officer (CEO) Vinod Kannan said, “It is incredibly heartening for all of us at Vistara to win the ‘Best Airline in India and Southern Asia’ title for the second consecutive year. This award reaffirms the steadfast trust our customers have in us and is a true testament to Vistara setting global benchmarks for excellence in operations and service delivery.
"We are also humbled to have won the ‘Best Airline Staff Service’ and ‘Best Cabin Crew’ honours that celebrate the invincible spirit of all our employees - on the frontline and behind the scenes - to provide our customers the finest experience every single day.
"We are also delighted to have been recognised as the 'Best Business Class in India and Southern Asia'. Warm hospitality and thoughtfulness are integral to the intrinsic customer-first culture at Vistara, and our extraordinary teams endeavour to deliver it consistently. We sincerely thank all our loyal customers for their faith in us and express our heartfelt gratitude to Skytrax for the recognitions.”
Commenting on Vistara's feat, Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said, "Vistara continues to set new standards across the Indian airtravel market, and as the airline has grown its long haul network it is now receiving the due recognition for being the Best Airline in India and Southern Asia.
"With Vistara’s staff receiving the award for the 'Best Staff Service in India and Southern Asia', these successes are a fabulous achievement. Vistara has been a strong and consistent performer in the awards in recent years and this year moves into the world’s Top 20 Airlines for the first time ever.”
Vistara, which is the brand name of TATA SIA Airlines Limited, has been the winner of several 'Best Airline' awards in a span of seven years since starting operations in 2015. Vistara, which connects destinations across India and abroad today, has a fleet of 53 aircraft, including 41 Airbus A320; five Airbus A321neo; five Boeing 737-800NG; and two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. It has flown more than 35 million customers since the first take-off.
TATA SIA Airlines Limited is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA).
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)