The 20 best airlines in the world, ranked by passengers

Singapore Airlines was named the best airline in the world in 2026. The aviation rating company Skytrax announced its 2026 World Airline Awards on Friday. Flyers evaluated airlines on factors like cleanliness, lounges, and offerings in different classes. Singapore Airlines was named the world's best airline for the sixth time. And the Oscar for best airline goes to… The aviation rating company Skytrax announced the winners of its annual 2026 World Airline Awards, known as "the Oscars of the aviation industry," on Friday. To determine the winners, Skytrax conducted the world's largest airline passenger satisfaction survey. From September 2025 to August 2026, customers from over 100 nationalities completed Skytrax's questionnaire in eight languages, evaluating airlines on their cleanliness, onboard WiFi, airport services and lounges, and offerings in economy, business, and first class, among other factors. Out of the more than 325 airlines included in the survey results, Singapore Airlines was named the world's best in 2026 — the sixth time the airline has won the top spot since the awards began in 1999. "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," Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said in a press release. Take a look at the 20 best airlines in the world, according to passengers. 20. Thai Airways A digital sign board for international departures on Thai Airways at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok's international transportation hub, in Samut Prakan, Thailand, on July 14, 2026. Thai authorities have increased outbound screening and security measures to intercept international drug trafficking networks and enhance the country's aviation safety protocols following the arrest of a Thai Airways flight attendant in Melbourne, Australia, who was found carrying 1 kilogram of heroin in their luggage. Thai Airways also placed 10th in Skytrax's World's Best Cabin Crew ranking. 19. Swiss International Air Lines A Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A330. Swiss International Air Lines, Switzerland's flag carrier, was previously ranked 11th in Skytrax's 2025 ranking and 10th in 2024. 18. Virgin Atlantic LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with tail registration number G-VWHO comes in to land at Heathrow Airport on August 10, 2025 in London, England. The UK's Virgin Atlantic placed fifth in Skytrax's rankings of World's Best Inflight Entertainment and World's Best Premium Economy Class. 17. Air Canada An Air Canada Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Skytrax named Air Canada the Best Airline in North America. The airline's Signature Suite lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport also won the award for Best Business Class Lounge Dining. 16. Iberia An Iberia Airbus A321-213. Joan Valls/ Iberia, the flag-carrier airline of Spain, won Skytrax's award for Best Airline Staff Service in Europe. 15. Saudi Arabian Airlines A Saudia Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Joan Valls/ Saudi Arabian Airlines won Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East for the second consecutive year. 14. Lufthansa Lufthansa's new Allegris first class. Germany's Lufthansa placed third in the rankings of the World's Most Family Friendly Airlines and the World's Best First Class Airlines. 13. STARLUX Airlines Business class seats onboard an Airbus SE A350-1000 aircraft operated by Starlux Airlines Co. during the Singapore Airshow in Singapore, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. The show runs through Feb. 8. Taiwan's STARLUX Airlines won Skytrax's award for World's Cleanest Airline, and placed seventh for the World's Best Cabin Crew award. 12. Qantas Airways A Qantas aircraft at Sydney Airport. Wolter Peeters/The Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images Qantas Airways, Australia's flagship airline, won the awards for Best Airline in Australia/Pacific and Best Airline Staff Service in Australia/Pacific. 11. EVA Air An EVA Air Boeing 777 airplane. The Taiwan-based EVA Air took the top spot in three categories: World's Most Family Friendly Airline, World's Best Premium Economy Class, and World's Best Premium Economy Class Amenities. It was sixth for World's Best Cabin Crew, and fourth for World's Best Economy Class. 10. Korean Air Korean Air plane is seen at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands on August 24, 2026. Korean Air made the top 10 in Skytrax's World Airline Awards. It placed seventh in 2025 and 11th in 2024. 9. Japan Airlines A Japan Airlines Co. (JAL) signage at the departure lobby at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. Japan's foreign travel spending rose 39% in June to 623.7 billion yen ($4.28 billion) compared with the same period the previous year and 891% from 2022, according to balance of payments data from Ministry of Finance. In addition to placing ninth in Skytrax's World's Best Airlines ranking, Japan Airlines also placed ninth in the 2026 ranking of World's Best Cabin Crew and third in World's Best Airport Services. 8. Hainan Airlines Flight attendants in front of a Hainan Airlines Airbus A330 series aircraft. Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images Headquartered in Haikou, Hainan, China, Hainan Airlines was recognized as the Best Airline in China and won Skytrax's Best Airline Staff Service award in China. Hainan Airlines also won the award for World's Best Business Class Airline Amenities and placed among the top 5 airlines for cleanliness, airport services, best business class, and best cabin crew. 7. Air France An Air France check-in counter. Air France won awards in several Skytrax categories, including World's Best First Class, World's Best First Class Lounge Dining, and World's Best First Class Comfort Amenities. 6. Emirates Economy class seating onboard the Emirates airline Airbus A350-900. Dubai-based Emirates won Skytrax's award for Best In-Flight Entertainment. It also made the top 5 for family friendliness, first class, and premium economy classes. 5. Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines planes. In addition to placing fifth worldwide, Turkish Airlines won Best Airline in Europe and Best Business Class Catering. 4. All Nippon Airways SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: An All Nippon Airways (ANA) plane lands at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States on May 12, 2026. All Nippon Airways (ANA), a Japanese airline, placed fourth in the overall ranking and won Skytrax's award for Best Airport Services. It was also ranked among the best airlines for cleanliness, cabin crew, and business and economy classes. 3. Cathay Pacific Airways Employees at Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.'s check-in counters at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Cathay's full-year profit inched higher, defying expectations for a drop, as the carrier benefited from continued strong demand for air travel and robust cargo volumes. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways made the top three of Skytrax's World Airline Awards and took home the award for World's Best Cabin Crew. Its airport lounge, The Wing, also won Best First Class Airline Lounge. It ranked second behind Singapore for best economy class, third for best business class, and fourth for best premium economy. 2. Qatar Airways A Qsuite Business Class cabin on a Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER. Qatar Airways has previously won the title of world's best airline nine times in Skytrax's ranking. While it came in second in the overall contest this year, the carrier won the inaugural Best Onboard WiFi award and the World's Best Business Class award for the 13th time. 1. Singapore Airlines An Airbus A350-900 operated by Singapore Airlines. Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images Skytrax named Singapore Airlines the best airline in the world in 2026. It's the sixth time that the airline has won the top spot. Singapore Airlines also won Skytrax's awards for World's Best Economy Class and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering. "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," Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said in a statement. "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." Read the original article on Business Insider

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