Singapore Airlines named World’s best airline
The 2026 World Airline Awards have been announced at a gala ceremony on the 18th September 2026 at the iconic Langham Hotel in London, with Singapore Airlines winning the World’s Best Airline Award.
The awards event was hosted by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organisation, with airline chairmen, CEOs and presidents travelling to London to receive the awards.
Widely known as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’, the World Airline Awards began in 1999, and remain independent and impartial, with all of the customer survey costs and awards event hosted by and paid for by the organisers, Skytrax.
Mr 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.
Following are the world’s Top 20 airlines in 2026:
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. Cathay Pacific
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Turkish Airlines
6. Emirates
7. Air France
8. Hainan Airlines
9. Japan Airlines
10. Korean Air
11. EVA Air
12. Qantas Airways
13. STARLUX Airlines
14. Lufthansa
15. Saudi Arabian Airlines
16. Iberia
17. Air Canada
18. Virgin Atlantic
19. Swiss Int’l Air Lines
20. Thai Airways
Following are some of the key Top 5 and Top 10 Ratings in the 2026 World Airline Awards:
World’s Best Cabin Crew 2026
1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Malaysia Airlines
4. Hainan Airlines
5. ANA All Nippon Airways
6. EVA Air
7. STARLUX Airlines
8. Garuda Indonesia
9. Japan Airlines
10. Thai Airways
World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2026
1. AirAsia
2. Scoot
3. Vueling Airlines
4. Eurowings
5. Iberia Express
6. Volotea
7. Transavia
8. Flynas
9. Indigo
10. Allegiant Air
World’s Best Regional Airlines 2026
1. Bangkok Airways
2. Porter Airlines
3. Virgin Australia
4. Aegean Airlines
5. Azerbaijan Airlines
6. Hong Kong Airlines
7. jetBlue Airways
8. Royal Air Maroc
9. RwandAir
10. Azul Brazilian Airlines
World’s Most Family Friendly Airlines 2026
1. EVA Air
2. Emirates
3. Lufthansa
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
5. Singapore Airlines
World’s Cleanest Airlines 2026
1. STARLUX Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Hainan Airlines
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
World’s Best Leisure Airlines 2026
1. Air Transat
2. SunExpress
3. TUI Airways
4. Sun PhuQuoc Airways
5. Condor
World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment 2026
1. Emirates
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. Qatar Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic
World’s Best Airport Services 2026
1. ANA All Nippon Airways
2. Malaysia Airlines
3. Japan Airlines
4. Singapore Airlines
5. Hainan Airlines
World’s Most Improved Airlines 2026
1. Egyptair
2. Air India
3. Royal Jordanian Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Sun PhuQuoc Airways
World’s Best Independent Airport Lounges 2026
1. Chase Sapphire Lounge – LGA
2. Plaza Premium – FCO
3. Chase Sapphire Lounge – HKG
4. Plaza Premium – LHR T4
5. Capital One – JFK
World’s Best First Class Airlines 2026
1. Air France
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Lufthansa
4. Emirates
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
World’s Best Business Class Airlines 2026
1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Hainan Airlines
World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines 2026
1. EVA Air
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic
World’s Best Economy Class Airlines 2026
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Qatar Airways
4. EVA Air
5. ANA All Nippon Airways