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By Talia Lakritz You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Singapore Airlines was named the best airline in the world in 2026. Kevin Carter/Getty Images 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 Thai Airways sign at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, Thailand.
Matt Hunt/NurPhoto via Getty Images 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. Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images Swiss International Air Lines, Switzerland's flag carrier, was previously ranked 11th in Skytrax's 2025 ranking and 10th in 2024. 18.
Virgin Atlantic A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. John Keeble/Getty Images 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.
Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/Bloomberg via Getty Images 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/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images 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/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images 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. MICHAELA STACHE/AFP via Getty Images 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 on an Airbus A350-1000 aircraft operated by STARLUX Airlines.
SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images 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 Airways aircraft. 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. Kevin Carter/Getty Images 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 A Korean Air plane. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Korean Air made the top 10 in Skytrax's World Airline Awards. It placed seventh in 2025 and 11th in 2024. 9.
Japan Airlines Japan Airlines signage. Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images 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.
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images 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 Airbus A350-900. John Keeble/Getty Images 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. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images In addition to placing fifth worldwide, Turkish Airlines won Best Airline in Europe and Best Business Class Catering. 4.
All Nippon Airways An ANA All Nippon Airways plane. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images 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. Lam Yik/Bloomberg via Getty Images 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. BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images 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 next Talia Lakritz You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
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Source: Business Insider
