Air Canada has been voted the best airline in Canada and the best in North America by readers of Global Traveler magazine.

The annual survey of the U.S.-based magazine's 25,000 readers polls people on flying, airports and hotels.

This year it handed out 60 awards, meaning many airlines got some form of recognition. There were awards for best all-business-class airline, best first-class seat design, and even best airline to Japan (All Nippon Airways).

Air Canada was pleased nonetheless at being recognized, particularly given that readers of Global Traveler tend to be flying on business, making them the most attractive customers for most airlines.

"It's a wonderful award. We're particularly pleased as it came from that demographic. These are the road warriors," Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an interview with CBC News.

Turbulent climate

The magazine noted that this has been another tough year for airlines.

"Unprecedented and, at times, turbulent, 2009 presented more than its share of challenges to the travel industry," the magazine observed. "Diminished capacities, significant losses, less business travel — all the adversity reshaped the industry, but several companies continued to excel with an unending dedication to service and to the customer."

Fitzpatrick said Air Canada has overhauled its entire fleet to upgrade seating and entertainment, and agreed that airlines have faced challenging times as costs have risen and fares have stalled.

An old Air Canada brochure shows how fares have not kept pace with inflation. (Air Canada)

"Fares have not kept up with inflation, and with a seat sale, which we have constantly, you can get a flight to Montreal from Toronto for less than in 1982 in absolute dollars," Fitzpatrick wrote in an email accompanied by an old brochure showing some fares in 1968 and 1982.

"You can see CP (which has since merged with Air Canada) sold Montreal-Vancouver for $178 in 1968, we have it on our website today for $195. Even the regular fares are cheaper today once you factor in 27 years of inflation," he wrote.

"Nothing we buy — fuel, aircraft, entertainment systems, wages —has gone down in price but fares have certainly not gone up."