Here are the five best airlines in the world

Each year, the World Airline Awards, often nicknamed the “Oscars of aviation,” recognize the best airlines on the planet. For the 2026 edition, Skytrax relied on passenger evaluations from more than 100 countries, collected between September 2025 and August 2026. More than 300 companies were in the running. Here are the five best in the world.

Singapore Airlines rose to the top of the rankings for the sixth time, thanks to the quality of its service. Skytrax highlights its gourmet menus created by internationally renowned chefs and its in-flight entertainment system. With its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, the company has more than 180 aircraft and serves more than 110 destinations.

Qatar Airways stands out for its on-board comfort, its refined cuisine and the quality of its service. Experts also point to its entertainment equipment and modern fleet, which is around five years old on average. Based in Doha, the company serves more than 150 destinations around the world with more than 200 aircraft.

Based in Hong Kong, the company relies on an extensive international network serving more than 200 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa. It has a fleet of nearly 200 aircraft and is one of the founding members of the oneworld global alliance.

Founded in 1952 with just two helicopters, ANA has grown to become Japan’s largest airline. It currently operates 82 international routes and 118 domestic ones. Its double hub system in Tokyo, via Narita and Haneda, facilitates connections to all of Japan, but also between North America and Asia.

Founded in 1933 with only five aircraft, Turkish Airlines is the best European airline and today serves more than 300 destinations with a fleet of more than 300 aircraft. The Turkish company above all highlights the exceptional extent of its network and claims to serve more countries than any other airline.

19th in the ranking, Swiss still leaves with a distinction. The Swiss company was named “Europe’s cleanest airline” at the World Airline Awards 2026. Globally, Starlux Airlines took first place in this category, ahead of Singapore Airlines, ANA, Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.