Singapore Airlines secured the top spot as the world’s best airline at the 2026 World Airline Awards, held in London on September 18, 2026, according to the aviation rating firm Skytrax. The carrier captured the highest honor, known as the airline of the year award, for the sixth time in its history.
Singapore Airlines Claims Top Honors and Cabin Categories
Alongside its overall victory, Singapore Airlines won the awards for the world’s best economy class and the world’s best economy class onboard catering, according to Skytrax. Goh Choon Phong, the chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines, stated that the recognition reflects the dedication and high professionalism of the employees who maintain daily operations and service standards, while also thanking passengers for their trust and support.
Global Rankings Place Qatar Airways Second and ANA Fourth
Qatar Airways, which held the top position in the previous ranking, placed second in the 2026 results, while Cathay Pacific Airways took third place. Japanese carriers maintained strong positions in the top ten, with All Nippon Airways (ANA) ranking fourth and Japan Airlines (JAL) coming in at ninth, according to the Skytrax survey.
The top 20 rankings feature international carriers from across the globe:
- 1st: Singapore Airlines
- 2nd: Qatar Airways
- 3rd: Cathay Pacific Airways
- 4th: All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- 5th: Turkish Airlines
- 6th: Emirates
- 7th: Air France
- 8th: Hainan Airlines
- 9th: Japan Airlines (JAL)
- 10th: Korean Air
- 11th: EVA Air
- 12th: Qantas Airways
- 13th: Starlux Airlines
- 14th: Lufthansa
- 15th: Saudia
- 16th: Iberia Airlines
- 17th: Air Canada
- 18th: Virgin Atlantic
- 19th: Swiss International Air Lines
- 20th: Thai Airways International
Regional Carriers and Industry Evaluation Standards
Carriers further down the list include Taiwan’s EVA Air at 11th and Starlux Airlines, which has expanded its route network rapidly, at 13th, based on the Skytrax data. European carriers Lufthansa and Iberia Airlines secured 14th and 16th places respectively, while Air Canada represented North America at 17th.
Established in 1999, the World Airline Awards function as an independent customer satisfaction survey often referred to in the industry as the aviation awards equivalent of the Academy Awards. The 2026 evaluation process gathered feedback and metrics across more than 300 airlines worldwide.
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