Korean Air wins another 5-star rating

Korean Air has been recognised as a 5-star airline by Skytrax for the sixth consecutive year in the 2026 World Airline Star Rating. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, Skytrax is a global aviation consultancy that evaluates airlines based on comprehensive service standards. Since 1999, its World Airline Star Rating has assessed airline quality on a scale of one to five stars, with only 10 carriers worldwide—including Korean Air—currently holding the top 5-star distinction. The 2026 assessment followed a detailed Skytrax audit beginning from January 2026. The audit team evaluated a variety of Korean Air long haul and regional routes to assess more than 550 product and service elements. The review covered the entire passenger journey, including check-in, transfers, lounge, in-flight dining, amenities, cabin service, inflight entertainment (IFE) and seating. Korean Air received strong scores for its website functionality, passenger and transport systems, cabin service and IFE. The audit specifically highlighted the airline’s catering excellence, noting the superior quality, ingredient sourcing, and presentation of meals across all travel classes—standards that were particularly exceptional on flights departing from the airline’s hub at Seoul Incheon. The airline’s cabin crew also received acclaim for their service consistency. Across all cabins, Korean Air crew maintained a strong ethos of hospitality, blending traditional politeness with modern operational efficiency. The airline recorded notable improvements in lounge-related scores compared to the previous year. This reflects the completion of a 41-month project to establish seven next-generation lounges at Incheon International Airport, finalised with the opening of the First Class and Prestige Class West lounges. Korean Air is also upgrading global lounges. In March, the airline unveiled a renovated flagship lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, and an upgraded lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is set to open later this year. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, stated: “The Certification of Korean Air with the highest 5-Star Airline Rating for 2026 confirms the airline’s consistent focus on delivering a high-quality passenger experience. This 5-Star Airline Rating clearly demonstrates that Korean Air continues to excel in key areas such as cabin comfort, catering, and a very accomplished service delivery both onboard and on each flight.” “Korean Air remains committed to elevating service quality through a steadfast focus on customer satisfaction and service excellence,” said a Korean Air representative. “Through strategic investment and continuous innovation, we will continue to deliver a premium travel experience that exceeds the expectations of our global passengers.” Korean Air elected chair of SkyTeam safety committee Korean Air has been elected as the Chair airline of the Safety, Security & Quality (SSQ) Committee of SkyTeam, the global airline alliance. As the Chair airline, Korean Air will lead the development and implementation of alliance-wide safety, security and quality policies across all SkyTeam member carriers. Bennet Allen Walsh, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Aviation Safety & Security at Korean Air, will serve as the SSQ Functional Executive for a two-year term. The SSQ Committee plays a central role in establishing common standards that strengthen safety, security and quality across the alliance and broader global aviation industry. In this leadership position, Korean Air will work closely with the SkyTeam Executive Board to advance key safety initiatives and foster synergy, enhance collaboration among member airlines, and promote the exchange of best practices. Key priorities during Korean Air’s term include strengthening international guidelines for the in-flight use of portable power banks and standardizing SkyTeam’s Emergency Response Plan across all member airlines. “This appointment reflects Korean Air’s unwavering commitment to advancing the highest standards of aviation safety, security and quality,” said a Korean Air representative. “We will continue to work closely with SkyTeam members to further strengthen alliance-wide standards and deliver safer, more reliable travel experiences for passengers worldwide.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]