There is a reason that the Canadian Government is adverse to allowing further access by Middle East carriers. There is no comparison with the onboard service offered to passengers.
Aircraft configuration is close, but Qatar Airways has more room in both economy and business class on the B777
SeatGuru Seat Map Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER (77W) V2 SeatGuru Seat Map Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER (77W) Two Class
Flight attendants for Qatar number 16 on the Boeing 777-300 vs 10 - 12 (?) on Air Canada. The service is constant and attentive on Qatar Airways though one must keep in mind there is no union, so employees are quite driven to ensure they are not reported. Flight attendants' average age is much less than legacy North American carriers and this is reflected in the attitude displayed to passengers. The fact that experience may play a bigger role in accident survival does not play major part on customers' perception of an airline voyage. (This is a compliment to the capability and professionalism of North American crews).
Aircraft and fuel expenses being equal (there is no large benefit to Middle East airlines), financing and employee costs are less in the Middle East). Funds have been provided by Government and private sources at little cost and there no income tax on wages. Employee benefit costs are negligible as are airport fees. This promotes a much lower cost operating environment than North America which permits the Middle East carriers a larger margin. These benefits are exploited by offering an enhanced travel experience.
Skytrax awards primarily reflect passenger perceptions. They are slightly skewed by base criteria, but are likely the closest measure available to gauge airline customer service. There are many reasons why Far and Middle East carriers score higher than those in North America. They do not offer protection to underperforming employees and select their senior cabin staff on performance rather than seniority. This is not acceptable to unionized companies and is reflected in the status. This is one of the factors that makes competition very difficult and therefore the barriers in place to protect the domestic carriers rather than let the consumer decide.
Skytrax may not be the perfect measure of consumer satisfaction, but it is certainly a valid indicator. It also indicates why the Far and Middle Eastern carriers are on a rapid international growth path, while North American carriers struggle (though happy to see their domestic fortunes are improving). The Canadian Government may block further access to Middle East carriers into Canada but they cannot stop their increased presence in the United States, and the enticement to Canadians to avail themselves of their services.