Singapore Airlines wins again

National carrier Singapore Airlines has taken home the World’s Best Airline award from Skytrax, besting Qatar Airways. The awards were announced Friday (18 September) at the Langham Hotel in London. Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines said: “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. 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.” Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said: “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. Singapore Airlines achieved excellent results in other categories, with their Economy Class winning the World’s Best Economy Class title, and the World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering awards. These successes should be a source of great pride and motivation for Singapore Airlines management and staff, made even more special by the fact this is the sixth occasion in the awards history that Singapore Airlines has won this highest accolade.” Last year’s winner, Qatar Airways took second place in 2026, with Cathay Pacific Airways in third place, ANA All Nippon Airways ranked No. 4 and Turkish Airlines in fifth position, out of more than 300 airlines included in the survey results. THE WORLD’S TOP 20 AIRLINES IN 2026 Singapore Airlines Qatar Airways Cathay Pacific ANA All Nippon Airways Turkish Airlines Emirates Air France Hainan Airlines Japan Airlines Korean Air EVA Air Qantas Airways STARLUX Airlines Lufthansa Saudi Arabian Airlines Iberia Air Canada Virgin Atlantic Swiss Int’l Air Lines Thai Airways (PHOTO; Qatar Airways) Qatar Airways, the nine times winner of the World’s Best Airline title was ranked No. 2 this year, with the airline winning four top awards including the World’s Best Business Class Airline, the 13th time the airline has received this global accolade. Further success came with its Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden named the World’s Best Business Class Lounge, and Qatar Airways collected the award as the Best Airline in the Middle East. Qatar Airways also received the inaugural award for the World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi, introduced in 2026 to reflect the importance to today’s customer experience of fast and free onboard connectivity. Hamad Al Khater, Qatar Airways Group CEO said: “We are honoured to receive four World Airline Awards from Skytrax, including the World’s Best Business Class for a thirteenth time and the first award ever given for the World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi. These awards belong to our people. Sixty thousand colleagues deliver the best experience in the world for our passengers every day, and they have done so through a particularly challenging year. As Qatar Airways prepares to mark its thirtieth anniversary next year, their commitment and professionalism are the foundation of everything we have built. I thank our passengers for their loyalty, and I dedicate these four awards to every one of our people, as we take this airline further in the chapter ahead.” (PHOTO: Matt Driskill) Cathay Pacific Airways took top honours with the award for the World’s Best Cabin Crew, and also received the award for the World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge, with the recently transformed The Wing Lounge providing a luxurious, calm environment with discreet, high-quality service. Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “We are honoured to once again be named among the very best airlines in the world, and to receive the awards for World’s Best Cabin Crew and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge. These recognitions are a testament to the incredible efforts of the entire Cathay team, who continue to deliver excellence in customer experience and service both in the air and on the ground. Importantly, they will serve to motivate us to keep improving as we strive to become our customers’ most loved service brand. To achieve this vision, we have already committed around HK$150 billion in investments to expand and upgrade our fleet, enhance our cabins and lounges, and digitally innovate, all of which will elevate the customer experience and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a world-class international aviation hub. I would like to thank our customers for their continued support, and our people for the passion, professionalism and dedication they bring to every journey.” (IMAGE: Via STARLUX) STARLUX Airlines won the World’s Cleanest Airline award, recognising the consistently high standards achieved across its fleet. At the start of the 2026 awards event in London, STARLUX Airlines also received their 5-Star Airline Rating for the second consecutive year in the airlines 6 year history. Glenn Chai, STARLUX Airlines CEO said: “Receiving the SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline recognition for the second consecutive year is a tremendous honor for STARLUX, and being named the World’s Cleanest Airline this year is an equally meaningful recognition. These honors reflect not only the quality of our service, but also the dedication of every STARLUX colleague who consistently pays attention to every detail. From the cabin environment and inflight dining to every touchpoint throughout the passenger journey, we strive to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations. We are sincerely grateful for the continued support and trust of our passengers, as well as the dedication of our colleagues both on the frontline and behind the scenes. Looking ahead, we will continue to put our passengers at the center of everything we do and further elevate our service and quality standards, making every STARLUX journey one to remember.” (PHOTO: Shutterstock) AirAsia was the winner of the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline award, a title it has won every year since 2010. AirAsia Co-founder and Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes said: “To be recognised as the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for a landmark 17th consecutive year is truly monumental, and something I will never take for granted. Especially today, when aviation continues to face so much uncertainty and geopolitical headwinds. It underscores our resilience, agility, and uncompromising commitment to low-cost excellence. We extend our sincere gratitude to our guests who continue to believe in us and vote for us year after year. This award belongs to every Allstar across our network; their dedication under challenging global conditions is what makes AirAsia truly world-class.” AirAsia’s Fernandes refutes financial concerns, points to new growth plans Malaysia talks to rival airlines as it monitors AirAsia’s financial health Strapped AirAsia Takes Unusual Step of Offloading New Planes Scoot received a top award as the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline. Leslie Thng, CEO of Scoot said: “It is an honour to receive the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline award for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition validates Scoot’s commitment to providing our customers with comfortable, reliable and seamless travel experiences. On behalf of the rest of the Scoot family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers and valued industry partners whose continued support makes this achievement possible. We will continue to innovate, strengthen our operational resilience and enhance the customer experience to maintain our position as a leading low-cost carrier.” (PHOTO: Bangkok Airways) Bangkok Airways was named the World’s Best Regional Airline for the 10th consecutive year. Widely known as Asia’s Boutique Airline, this award for Bangkok Airways is a strong recognition from customers of the highest quality standards the airline provides. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways commented: “This year’s achievement is particularly meaningful for Bangkok Airways, as it marks the 10th consecutive year that we have been recognized as both the World’s Best Regional Airline and the Best Regional Airline in Asia by Skytrax. This recognition reflects the trust that passengers around the world have continued to place in Bangkok Airways over the years. On behalf of our management team and all Bangkok Airways employees, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our passengers for every vote, every journey, and the continued trust and support they have given us. I would also like to dedicate this achievement to all our employees, from our frontline teams who serve passengers every day to those working behind the scenes, whose commitment and attention to detail help make every journey safe, seamless, and memorable.” Plaza Premium Group received the award as the World’s Best Airport Lounge Group, the tenth consecutive year that Plaza Premium Group has won this, with three Plaza Premium Lounges – at Rome Fiumicino, London Heathrow and Dubai airports – all ranked in the Top 10 Lounges worldwide. Mr Song Hoi See, Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group said: “Being named World’s Best Airport Lounge Group for a tenth consecutive year is an incredible honour. When we pioneered the concept of the independent airport lounge 28 years ago, our dream was to change how people experience airport transit. This award is far more than a trophy, it reflects the trust our travellers place in us and the dedication our teams bring to their work every single day. First and foremost, we thank every traveller who voted for us and chose us to be part of their journey. We are fully committed to making your travel experience better with our airport hospitality. To our team members around the world, thank you for your hard work and commitment to delivering the best hospitality, day in and day out. We are also grateful to Skytrax, and to our airport and business partners for their continued recognition and support. From being the world’s first, to being recognised as the world’s best for the tenth time, our mission remains the same, Together, we make travel better.” (IMAGE: Boeing) EVA Air won a trio of top awards, for the World’s Most Family Friendly Airline, the World’s Best Premium Economy Class, and the World’s Best Premium Economy Class Amenities. EVA Air pioneered Premium Economy back in 1992, and its continued success in this category reflects the high standards the airline has maintained over more than three decades. “We are grateful to travelers around the world for this recognition,” said EVA Air Chief Executive Vice President, Albert Liao. “Maintaining our 5-Star Airline rating for 11 consecutive years while once again receiving top honors across multiple categories is an achievement we are incredibly proud of. These awards reflect the dedication and professionalism of every member of the EVA Air team and their unwavering commitment to our passengers. Guided by our core values of safety, service, and sustainability, we will continue investing in every aspect of the travel journey while delivering the safe, comfortable, and five-star service experience that travelers expect from EVA Air.” (PHOTO: Shutterstock) Qantas Airways repeated its previous successes by winning two awards, as the Best Airline in Australia / Pacific region, and for the Best Airline Staff Service in Australia / Pacific. Qantas Group CEO, Vanessa Hudson said: “These awards recognise the care our people show at every stage of the journey, and the spirit they bring to it. I am very proud to see Qantas acknowledged this way, particularly because it is customers who decide it. Thank you to our team members around the world for the work they put into every flight, at every airport and behind the scenes every day.” (PHOTO: Turkish Airlines) Turkish Airlines has won a trio of top awards, for the Best Airline in Europe, the World’s Best Business Class Catering, and the Best Airline in Southern Europe. Turkish Airlines also ranked at No. 5 worldwide in the global airline ranking. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board, Mr Murat Şeker, said: “Being recognized as ‘Europe’s Best Airline’ for the 11th time and ranking first in two other categories is a great source of pride for us as the Turkish Airlines family. This achievement once again demonstrates the international recognition of the strong standards we uphold throughout the travel experience we offer our guests, from service quality to our approach to inflight catering. The fact that these awards are granted directly based on the evaluations of our passengers is also of great importance to us. As we bring Turkish hospitality to our guests around the world, we continue to work to further enhance our service quality at every touchpoint. I would like to thank all our colleagues who contributed to this achievement and our guests who place their trust in us. As Turkish Airlines, we will continue to represent our country in the skies in the strongest possible way and remain one of the brands shaping the future of global aviation.” (PHOTO: Shutterstock) Malaysia Airlines enjoyed success by winning the very competitive award for the Best Airline Staff Service in Asia, as well as rising to take 3rd place as the World Best Cabin Crew. Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said: “This recognition is a reflection of the collective efforts of our people across the airport, onboard and behind the scenes, who come together every day to deliver Malaysian Hospitality throughout the customer journey. Reaching this milestone after years of consistently climbing the global rankings is a significant achievement for our national carrier and a direct reward for our team’s relentless effort. It is this spirit of warm, thoughtful and consistent service that sets the Malaysia Airlines experience apart.” ANA All Nippon Airways achieved the No. 4 worldwide ranking in 2026, and continued previous year successes by winning the award for the World’s Best Airport Services. (PHOTO: Hainan Airlines) Hainan Airlines won three major awards, as the Best Airline in China (for a remarkable fifteenth consecutive year), the Best Airline Staff Service in China and the World’s Best Business Class Airline Amenities. Mr Zhu Tao, Chairman of Hainan Airlines said: “We are greatly honored to receive three prestigious awards. These accolades are high recognition of Hainan Airlines’ service quality and product innovation, and represent the combined achievements of our dedicated workforce and the enduring trust of our passengers. These awards will drive us forward. Benchmarking against higher standards, we will refine our premium aviation services and work to create an even better in‑flight journey for travelers.” (PHOTO: Airbus) IndiGo received the award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in India & South Asia. With a dominant domestic market share in India and over 40 international destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, IndiGo is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “Being recognised as the Best Low-Cost Airline for the 16th time by Skytrax, in IndiGo’s journey of 20 years so far, reflects our relentless focus on operational excellence and hassle-free experiences. It is also a testament to the enduring trust and confidence our customers have consistently placed in us over the last two decades and we thank them for their continued patronage and support. This recognition belongs to our committed workforce, whose unwavering dedication, passion, and professionalism bring our brand promise to life every day and make achievements like these possible. We are grateful to Skytrax for recognizing our efforts and inspiring us to continue our pursuit of excellence.” How India’s largest airline lost control and threw air travel into chaos IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers’ exit puts India’s competitive airline industry in focus IndiGo names aviation heavyweight Willie Walsh as new CEO Air Astana received two awards, as the Best Airline in Central Asia & CIS and the Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia & CIS and their low-cost airline, FlyArystan was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS. (IMAGE: Air Astana) Ibrahim Canliel, Chief Executive Officer of Air Astana Group, said: “We are honoured to receive these prestigious Skytrax awards for both Air Astana and FlyArystan. This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects the views of our passengers and demonstrates the strength of both airlines across their respective market segments. I would like to thank our customers for their continued trust and loyalty, and our entire team for their dedication and commitment to delivering the highest standards of safety and service. We will continue to invest in our people, our fleet and our customer experience as Air Astana Group enters the next stage of its growth.” Mr Johan Eidhagen, President & CEO of FlyArystan said: “We are honoured to be named Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & CIS for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition is a true reflection of the commitment, dedication and customer focus of our people. For a low-cost airline, people matter more than ever and they make the difference. I am incredibly proud of everyone behind this achievement. We will continue working together to deliver an affordable, convenient and high-quality travel experience for our passengers.” (IMAGE: Airbus) Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, said: “We are proud that flynas has retained the title of Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East at the 2026 World Airline Awards for the ninth consecutive year. We regard this recognition as a testament to the continued trust travelers place in our network and operations, and to our success in delivering the travel experience we promise our guests on every journey. flynas’ success is a Saudi success, made possible by the trust of our guests, the dedication of our crews, and the strong support provided by the government to the aviation sector as the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for tourism, travel and logistics, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Every new award and recognition brings greater responsibility and motivates us to build on that trust in line with our ‘We Connect the World to the Kingdom’ strategy, delivering a better experience as we expand and reinforce Saudi aviation’s presence on the global stage.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]