Singapore Airlines is named the World’s Best Airline at the 2026 World Airline Awards

The 2026 World Airline Awards have been announced at a gala ceremony on the 18^th September 2026 at the iconic Langham Hotel, London. The awards event was hosted by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organisation, with airline Chairman, CEOs and Presidents travelling to London to receive the awards.

Widely known as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’  the World Airline Awards began in 1999, and remain independent and impartial, with all of the customer survey costs and awards event hosted by and paid for by the organisers, Skytrax.

Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines said: “We are grateful to our customers for their trust and support, and we are committed to delivering an exceptional, world-class travel experience every time they fly with us. This award is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our people, who continually strive to uphold SIA’s renowned standards for service and operational excellence.”

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said: “We congratulate Singapore Airlines on this major achievement of being named the World’s Best Airline 2026, which highlights the level of product and service excellence they are providing to customers. Singapore Airlines achieved excellent results in other categories, with their Economy Class winning the World’s Best Economy Class title, and the World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering awards. These successes should be a source of great pride and motivation for Singapore Airlines management and staff, made even more special by the fact this is the sixth occasion in the awards history that Singapore Airlines has won this highest accolade.”

Last year’s winner, Qatar Airways took second place in 2026, with Cathay Pacific Airways in third place, ANA All Nippon Airways ranked No. 4 and Turkish Airlines in fifth position, out of more than 300 airlines included in the survey results.

THE WORLD’S TOP 20 AIRLINES IN 2026

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. Cathay Pacific
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Turkish Airlines
6. Emirates
7. Air France
8. Hainan Airlines
9. Japan Airlines
10. Korean Air
11. EVA Air
12. Qantas Airways
13. STARLUX Airlines
14. Lufthansa
15. Saudi Arabian Airlines
16. Iberia
17. Air Canada
18. Virgin Atlantic
19. Swiss Int’l Air Lines
20. Thai Airways

Qatar Airways, the nine times winner of the World’s Best Airline title was ranked No. 2 this year, with the airline winning four top awards including the World’s Best Business Class Airline, the thirteenth time the airline has received this global accolade. Further success came with its Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden named the World’s Best Business Class Lounge, and Qatar Airways collected the award as the Best Airline in the Middle East. Qatar Airways also received the inaugural award for the World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi, introduced in 2026 to reflect the importance to today’s customer experience of fast and free onboard connectivity.

Hamad Al Khater, Qatar Airways Group CEO said: “We are honoured to receive four World Airline Awards from Skytrax, including the World’s Best Business Class for a thirteenth time and the first award ever given for the World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi. These awards belong to our people. Sixty thousand colleagues deliver the best experience in the world for our passengers every day, and they have done so through a particularly challenging year. As Qatar Airways prepares to mark its thirtieth anniversary next year, their commitment and professionalism are the foundation of everything we have built. I thank our passengers for their loyalty, and I dedicate these four awards to every one of our people, as we take this airline further in the chapter ahead.”

Cathay Pacific Airways took top honours with the award for the World’s Best Cabin Crew, and also received the award for the World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge, with the recently transformed The Wing Lounge providing a luxurious, calm environment with discreet, high-quality service. Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “We are honoured to once again be named among the very best airlines in the world, and to receive the awards for World’s Best Cabin Crew and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge. These recognitions are a testament to the incredible efforts of the entire Cathay team, who continue to deliver excellence in customer experience and service both in the air and on the ground. Importantly, they will serve to motivate us to keep improving as we strive to become our customers’ most loved service brand. To achieve this vision, we have already committed around HK$150 billion in investments to expand and upgrade our fleet, enhance our cabins and lounges, and digitally innovate, all of which will elevate the customer experience and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a world-class international aviation hub. I would like to thank our customers for their continued support, and our people for the passion, professionalism and dedication they bring to every journey.”

STARLUX Airlines won the World’s Cleanest Airline award, recognising the consistently high standards achieved across its fleet. At the start of the 2026 awards event in London, STARLUX Airlines also received their 5-Star Airline Rating for the second consecutive year in the airlines 6 year history. Glenn Chai, STARLUX Airlines CEO said: “Receiving the SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline recognition for the second consecutive year is a tremendous honor for STARLUX, and being named the World’s Cleanest Airline this year is an equally meaningful recognition. These honors reflect not only the quality of our service, but also the dedication of every STARLUX colleague who consistently pays attention to every detail. From the cabin environment and inflight dining to every touchpoint throughout the passenger journey, we strive to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations. We are sincerely grateful for the continued support and trust of our passengers, as well as the dedication of our colleagues both on the frontline and behind the scenes. Looking ahead, we will continue to put our passengers at the center of everything we do and further elevate our service and quality standards, making every STARLUX journey one to remember.”

AirAsia was the winner of the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline award, a title it has won every year since 2010. AirAsia Co-founder and Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes said: “To be recognized as the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for a landmark 17th consecutive year is truly monumental, and something I will never take for granted. Especially today, when aviation continues to face so much uncertainty and geopolitical headwinds. It underscores our resilience, agility, and uncompromising commitment to low-cost excellence. We extend our sincere gratitude to our guests who continue to believe in us and vote for us year after year. This award belongs to every Allstar across our network; their dedication under challenging global conditions is what makes AirAsia truly world-class.”

Scoot received a top award as the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline. Leslie Thng, CEO of Scoot said: “It is an honour to receive the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline award for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition validates Scoot’s commitment to providing our customers with comfortable, reliable and seamless travel experiences. On behalf of the rest of the Scoot family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers and valued industry partners whose continued support makes this achievement possible. We will continue to innovate, strengthen our operational resilience and enhance the customer experience to maintain our position as a leading low-cost carrier.”

Air France enjoyed success by winning the awards for the World’s Best First Class, the World’s Best First Class Lounge Dining, and the World’s Best First Class Comfort Amenities, underlining Air France’s dedication to delivering total excellence in First Class. Air France also received the awards as the Best Airline in Western Europe.

Vueling (part of International Airlines Group, IAG), triumphed for the first time at the World Airline Awards, receiving the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe, which is a fabulous achievement in such a competitive low-cost airline market. Carolina Martinoli, CEO & Chair of Vueling said: “We are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition. This achievement reflects the hard work of more than 5,000 people who strive every day to offer the best travel experience, as well as the trust of more than 40 million customers who fly with us each year. For us, excellence means making every journey easier and more reliable for our customers, from getting them to their destination on time to offering products and services that meet their needs. This recognition inspires us to continue raising the bar as we progress towards our Rumbo 2035 ambition of becoming the preferred airline for customers travelling across Spain and Europe.”

Bangkok Airways was named the World’s Best Regional Airline for the tenth consecutive year. Widely known as Asia’s Boutique Airline, this award for Bangkok Airways is a strong recognition from customers of the highest quality standards the airline provides.

Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways commented: “This year’s achievement is particularly meaningful for Bangkok Airways, as it marks the 10th consecutive year that we have been recognized as both the World’s Best Regional Airline and the Best Regional Airline in Asia by Skytrax. This recognition reflects the trust that passengers around the world have continued to place in Bangkok Airways over the years. On behalf of our management team and all Bangkok Airways employees, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our passengers for every vote, every journey, and the continued trust and support they have given us. I would also like to dedicate this achievement to all our employees, from our frontline teams who serve passengers every day to those working behind the scenes, whose commitment and attention to detail help make every journey safe, seamless, and memorable.”

Plaza Premium Group received the award as the World’s Best Airport Lounge Group, the tenth consecutive year that Plaza Premium Group has won this, with three Plaza Premium Lounges – at Rome Fiumicino, London Heathrow and Dubai airports – all ranked in the Top 10 Lounges worldwide. Mr Song Hoi See, Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group said: “Being named World’s Best Airport Lounge Group for a tenth consecutive year is an incredible honour. When we pioneered the concept of the independent airport lounge 28 years ago, our dream was to change how people experience airport transit. This award is far more than a trophy, it reflects the trust our travellers place in us and the dedication our teams bring to their work every single day. First and foremost, we thank every traveller who voted for us and chose us to be part of their journey. We are fully committed to making your travel experience better with our airport hospitality. To our team members around the world, thank you for your hard work and commitment to delivering the best hospitality, day in and day out. We are also grateful to Skytrax, and to our airport and business partners for their continued recognition and support. From being the world’s first, to being recognised as the world’s best for the tenth time, our mission remains the same, Together, we make travel better.”

EVA Air won a trio of top awards, for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline, the World’s Best Premium Economy Class, and the World’s Best Premium Economy Class Amenities. EVA Air pioneered Premium Economy back in 1992, and its continued success in this category reflects the high standards the airline has maintained over more than three decades. “We are grateful to travelers around the world for this recognition,” said EVA Air Chief Executive Vice President, Albert Liao. “Maintaining our 5-Star Airline rating for 11 consecutive years while once again receiving top honors across multiple categories is an achievement we are incredibly proud of. These awards reflect the dedication and professionalism of every member of the EVA Air team and their unwavering commitment to our passengers. Guided by our core values of safety, service, and sustainability, we will continue investing in every aspect of the travel journey while delivering the safe, comfortable, and five-star service experience that travelers expect from EVA Air.”

Saudia is a repeat winner of the coveted award for the Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East. H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “This achievement carries particular significance in one of the world’s most competitive industries. It reflects the dedication of our people, who are central to Saudia’s transformation and bring Saudi hospitality to life through the service and care they provide to our guests every day. We will continue investing in our people, technology and products as we advance the New Saudia Experience and further enhance our competitiveness globally.” Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, said: “Being recognized for the second consecutive year reflects the consistency of the experience our guests are seeing across their journey. Our ambition is for every guest to feel recognized and cared for, and our frontline teams make that possible through the service, attention and hospitality they bring to every interaction. This award reinforces the progress we are making in creating an experience that our guests value and trust.”

Qantas Airways repeated its previous successes by winning two awards, as the Best Airline in Australia / Pacific region, and for the Best Airline Staff Service in Australia / Pacific. Qantas Group CEO, Vanessa Hudson said: “These awards recognise the care our people show at every stage of the journey, and the spirit they bring to it. I am very proud to see Qantas acknowledged this way, particularly because it is customers who decide it. Thank you to our team members around the world for the work they put into every flight, at every airport and behind the scenes every day.”

Turkish Airlines has won a trio of top awards, for the Best Airline in Europe, the World’s Best Business Class Catering, and the Best Airline in Southern Europe. Turkish Airlines also ranked at No. 5 worldwide in the global airline ranking. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board, Mr Murat Şeker, said: “Being recognized as ‘Europe’s Best Airline’ for the 11th time and ranking first in two other categories is a great source of pride for us as the Turkish Airlines family. This achievement once again demonstrates the international recognition of the strong standards we uphold throughout the travel experience we offer our guests, from service quality to our approach to inflight catering. The fact that these awards are granted directly based on the evaluations of our passengers is also of great importance to us. As we bring Turkish hospitality to our guests around the world, we continue to work to further enhance our service quality at every touchpoint. I would like to thank all our colleagues who contributed to this achievement and our guests who place their trust in us. As Turkish Airlines, we will continue to represent our country in the skies in the strongest possible way and remain one of the brands shaping the future of global aviation.”

In North America, Air Canada topped the awards as the Best Airline in North America, with Air Canada’s Toronto Pearson Signature Suite also winning the Best Business Class Lounge Dining award. “Millions of travellers around the world vote every year, and we’re honoured to see the efforts of our people recognized by Skytrax once again,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada. “These distinctions reflect the passion and skills of our 40,000 coworkers, who share the best of Canada — at home and around the world. On behalf of the Air Canada team, we thank our customers for their Loyalty and trust. We’re proud of this recognition, and it only reinforces our commitment to improving our services.”

Allegiant Air received the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in North America. Greg Anderson, CEO of Allegiant said: “Winning the Best Low-Cost Airline in North America award for a third consecutive year is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the hard work our team members put in every day to deliver the premier travel experience our customers deserve. This recognition belongs to every one of them — from our crews in the air to our teams on the ground — and to the guests who continue to choose Allegiant for their travel needs. We’re proud to keep proving that affordable travel and quality service aren’t mutually exclusive.”

Malaysia Airlines enjoyed success by winning the very competitive award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Asia, as well as rising to take 3^rd place as the World Best Cabin Crew. Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said: “This recognition is a reflection of the collective efforts of our people across the airport, onboard and behind the scenes, who come together every day to deliver Malaysian Hospitality throughout the customer journey. Reaching this milestone after years of consistently climbing the global rankings is a significant achievement for our national carrier and a direct reward for our team’s relentless effort. It is this spirit of warm, thoughtful and consistent service that sets the Malaysia Airlines experience apart.”

Air Transat was named the World’s Best Leisure Airline, with 2026 being the eighth year the Canadian airline has received this top accolade. Annick Guérard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Transat said: “Being named the World’s Best Leisure Airline for the eighth time is a tremendous source of pride for Air Transat and, above all, a well-deserved recognition of our teams. Every day, they put their expertise, care, and hospitality at the service of our travellers. This distinction reflects their exceptional commitment and their ability to create travel experiences that set us apart, both here and around the world.”

ANA All Nippon Airways achieved the No. 4 worldwide ranking in 2026, and continued previous year successes by winning the award for the World’s Best Airport Services.

In Africa, Ethiopian Airlines won the Best Airline in Africa award for the seventh consecutive year, and FlySafair was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa. Mesfin Tasew, GCEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group commented: “Being recognized as the Best Airline in Africa for the ninth consecutive year is a proud milestone for Ethiopian Airlines. This achievement reflects the confidence that our valued customers place in us, the dedication of our employees, and our continued commitment to delivering world-class service. We are honored by this recognition and remain committed to delivering excellence to every passenger we serve.”

RwandAir received the award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Africa. Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO, RwandAir, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Africa. This recognition belongs to our people, whose dedication, professionalism and genuine care for our customers bring RwandAir’s service promise to life every day, carrying the spirit of Rwanda with them on every journey. As we continue to grow and strengthen our position as Africa’s gateway to the world, we remain committed to investing in our people and ensuring that every passenger experiences the warmth, care and professionalism that define RwandAir.”

Hainan Airlines won three major awards, as the Best Airline in China (for a remarkable fifteenth consecutive year), the Best Airline Staff Service in China and the World’s Best Business Class Airline Amenities. Mr Zhu Tao, Chairman of Hainan Airlines said: “We are greatly honored to receive three prestigious awards. These accolades are high recognition of Hainan Airlines’ service quality and product innovation, and represent the combined achievements of our dedicated workforce and the enduring trust of our passengers. These awards will drive us forward. Benchmarking against higher standards, we will refine our premium aviation services and work to create an even better in‑flight journey for travelers.”

Iberia triumphed by winning the award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Europe. Marco Sansavini, President and CEO of Iberia said: “This recognition is especially meaningful because it celebrates Iberia’s greatest asset: our people. Airlines are about much more than aircraft, destinations or products; they are about the people who bring Iberia to life every day. Being recognised as Europe’s Best Airline Staff is, above all, a tribute to the professionalism, dedication and commitment of the thousands of people who earn our customers’ trust, inspire them to choose Iberia and make them feel at home when they fly with us. This spirit of service is also at the heart of our Flight Plan 2030, our roadmap for the next years. As we transform Iberia, our priority is to keep improving the experience we offer our customers at every stage of their journey. That means investing in our people, our products and our digital capabilities, so that we can provide an even more personal, seamless and consistent service. We are building a stronger and better Iberia, while staying true to what matters most: taking care of our customers.”

EGYPTAIR won the World’s Most Improved Airline award in 2026, recognising the airline’s quality improvement across the entire World Airline Awards programme. Captain Ahmed Adel, Chairman & CEO EGYPTAIR Holding Company commented: “I would like to express my sincere appreciation for this recognition, which we see as both an honor and an encouragement to continue raising our standards in the years ahead. For more than nine decades, EGYPTAIR has carried the flag of Egypt across the world. Over the past several years, we have undertaken a comprehensive transformation focused on elevating every aspect of the passenger experience, from our fleet, cabins, and onboard service to our digital platforms and ground operations. At the heart of this journey are our people. We have invested significantly in training, service standards, and operational capabilities across our cabin crew and ground teams, with one clear ambition: to deliver world-class service with the warmth and authenticity of Egyptian hospitality and this recognition belongs to our passengers and to the thousands of EGYPTAIR employees whose dedication has made this transformation possible. We are proud of the progress we have achieved, but we regard this recognition not as a destination, but as motivation to do more. Our journey toward service excellence continues, with pride in our heritage and an unwavering commitment to making EGYPTAIR an airline worthy of Egypt’s place in the world.”

IndiGo received the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in India & South Asia. With a dominant domestic market share in India and over 40 international destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, IndiGo is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “Being recognised as the Best Low-Cost Airline for the 16th time by Skytrax, in IndiGo’s journey of 20 years so far, reflects our relentless focus on operational excellence and hassle-free experiences. It is also a testament to the enduring trust and confidence our customers have consistently placed in us over the last two decades and we thank them for their continued patronage and support. This recognition belongs to our committed workforce, whose unwavering dedication, passion, and professionalism bring our brand promise to life every day and make achievements like these possible. We are grateful to Skytrax for recognizing our efforts and inspiring us to continue our pursuit of excellence.”

JetSMART Airlines won the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in South America, and Estuardo Ortiz, CEO & Founder of JetSMART Airlines, commented: “Over the past 10 years, we have connected more than 60 million people across South America while staying true to what defines JetSMART: low fares, a modern fleet, reliable operations, and a friendly passenger experience. Being recognized for the fourth time as the Best Low-Cost Airline in South America is a great recognition of our model and, above all, of our Rockstars. We will keep working every day to be better for our customers, connect more destinations, and make flying SMART accessible to more people.”

LOT Polish Airlines received the award as the Best Airline in Central Europe. Michal Fijol, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines said: “This year’s awards demonstrate that we consistently care for the passenger experience at every stage of the journey. Being named Best Airline in Central Europe, based on the opinions of travellers from around the world, is a source of great satisfaction for us. The four-star ratings awarded to the Polonez and Mazurek lounges and the LOT Business Lounge Chicago recognise the changes we have introduced recently. During the audit, particular attention was paid to their visual consistency, functionality and excellent food and beverage offering. We are especially pleased that our lounge in Chicago has been recognised, as it enables us to promote Polish design, home-grown brands, flavours and culture across the Atlantic. These awards are a credit to the entire LOT team, whom I would like to thank for their work every day.”

LATAM Airlines received two top awards, as the Best Airline in South America and the Best Airline Staff Service in South America. Paulo Miranda, Chief Customer and Experience Officer, LATAM Airlines said: “This recognition belongs to our people, whose passion and commitment have made LATAM the leading airline group in South America. I want to thank every member of our team, and especially our customers for choosing us and trusting us every day. We will keep working to earn that trust on every journey.”

Azerbaijan Airlines received a top award as the Best Regional Airline in Central Asia & CIS. Samir Rzayev, Chairman of the Management Board of Azerbaijan Airlines, said: “This recognition belongs to our people, whose dedication shapes our passengers’ experience every day. It also reflects the trust passengers place in Azerbaijan Airlines. As we invest in new aircraft, expand our network and improve our services, our focus remains on making every journey safer, more comfortable and more convenient. We are proud to receive this award and motivated to keep earning that trust.”

oneworld was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance, reclaiming the title for the first time since 2021 and marking the fifth occasion the alliance has received this global award. “This recognition is acknowledgment of the elevated, consistent experience our member airlines provide to customers around the world each day, as oneworld leads the industry in customer benefits, loyalty, sustainability initiatives and more,” said Ole Orver, CEO of oneworld. “With the best premium offerings in the world, including First Class lounge access, we are honored that customers see the considered care with which our member airlines deliver service.”

Air Astana received two awards, as the Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS and the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & CIS and their low-cost airline, FlyArystan was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS. Ibrahim Canliel, Chief Executive Officer of Air Astana Group, said: “We are honoured to receive these prestigious Skytrax awards for both Air Astana and FlyArystan. This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects the views of our passengers and demonstrates the strength of both airlines across their respective market segments. I would like to thank our customers for their continued trust and loyalty, and our entire team for their dedication and commitment to delivering the highest standards of safety and service. We will continue to invest in our people, our fleet and our customer experience as Air Astana Group enters the next stage of its growth.” Mr Johan Eidhagen, President & CEO of FlyArystan said: “We are honoured to be named Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition is a true reflection of the commitment, dedication and customer focus of our people. For a low-cost airline, people matter more than ever and they make the difference. I am incredibly proud of everyone behind this achievement. We will continue working together to deliver an affordable, convenient and high-quality travel experience for our passengers.”

Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, said: “We are proud that flynas has retained the title of Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East at the 2026 World Airline Awards for the ninth consecutive year. We regard this recognition as a testament to the continued trust travelers place in our network and operations, and to our success in delivering the travel experience we promise our guests on every journey. flynas’ success is a Saudi success, made possible by the trust of our guests, the dedication of our crews, and the strong support provided by the government to the aviation sector as the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for tourism, travel and logistics, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Every new award and recognition brings greater responsibility and motivates us to build on that trust in line with our ‘We Connect the World to the Kingdom’ strategy, delivering a better experience as we expand and reinforce Saudi aviation’s presence on the global stage.”

FlySafair was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa. Elmar Conradie, CEO of FlySafair said: “This recognition in the World Airline Awards belongs to every team member at FlySafair who shows up each day to get South Africans where they need to be, safely, on time and affordably. Being named Africa’s Best Low-Cost Airline reflects that consistency, and it’s an honour we don’t take for granted. To our customers, thank you for continuing to choose us and for trusting us with your journeys.”

Star Alliance was a repeat winner of the Best Airline Alliance Lounge award for its Paris CDG Airport Lounge at Terminal 1.

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Some of the key Top 5 and Top 10 Ratings in the 2026 World Airline Awards

The World’s Best Cabin Crew 2026

1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Malaysia Airlines
4. Hainan Airlines
5. ANA All Nippon Airways
6. EVA Air
7. STARLUX Airlines
8. Garuda Indonesia
9. Japan Airlines
10. Thai Airways

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2026

1. AirAsia
2. Scoot
3. Vueling Airlines
4. Eurowings
5. Iberia Express
6. Volotea
7. Transavia
8. Flynas
9. Indigo
10. Allegiant Air

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Regional Airlines 2026

1. Bangkok Airways
2. Porter Airlines
3. Virgin Australia
4. Aegean Airlines
5. Azerbaijan Airlines
6. Hong Kong Airlines
7. jetBlue Airways
8. Royal Air Maroc
9. RwandAir
10. Azul Brazilian Airlines

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Most Family Friendly Airlines 2026

1. EVA Air
2. Emirates
3. Lufthansa
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
5. Singapore Airlines

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Cleanest Airlines 2026

1. STARLUX Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Hainan Airlines
5. Cathay Pacific Airways

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Leisure Airlines 2026

1. Air Transat
2. SunExpress
3. TUI Airways
4. Sun PhuQuoc Airways
5. Condor

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment 2026

1. Emirates
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. Qatar Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Airport Services 2026

1. ANA All Nippon Airways
2. Malaysia Airlines
3. Japan Airlines
4. Singapore Airlines
5. Hainan Airlines

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Most Improved Airlines 2026

1. Egyptair
2. Air India
3. Royal Jordanian Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Sun PhuQuoc Airways

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Independent Airport Lounges 2026

1. Chase Sapphire Lounge – LGA
2. Plaza Premium – FCO
3. Chase Sapphire Lounge – HKG
4. Plaza Premium – LHR T4
5. Capital One – JFK

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best First Class Airlines 2026

1. Air France
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Lufthansa
4. Emirates
5. Cathay Pacific Airways

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Business Class Airlines 2026

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Hainan Airlines

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines 2026

1. EVA Air
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic

View the full 2026 Award results

The World’s Best Economy Class Airlines 2026

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Qatar Airways
4. EVA Air
5. ANA All Nippon Airways

View the full 2026 Award results

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ABOUT THE 2026 WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS

The World Airline Awards are independent and impartial, introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that is truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners. The awards are often referred to by media around the world as “the Oscars of the aviation industry”.

Skytrax pay all costs of the Survey and the Awards process, with no sponsorship. There is no survey entry or registration fee, and awards event is free to attend and there are no charges or royalty payments for use of the award logos and results.

The online survey operated from September 2025 to August 2026, and more than 100 customer nationalities participated. All survey entries were screened to identify IP and user information, with duplicate, suspect and ineligible entries deleted.

Over 300 airlines are featured in the 2025/2026 survey results. The customer survey was offered in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.