According to the most recent Skytrax 2026 ranking, the world’s top 10 airlines are made up exclusively of Asian and Middle Eastern airlines – such as Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines and Hainan Airlines – rewarded for their quality standards in products and services, which include both the on-board and airport environments. Among these, none are European or American, the best are all Asian or Middle Eastern, also awarded for comfortable economic cabins and luxury suites. Let’s see which airlines we are talking about and how they were rated.
- 1The top 10 best airlines in the world: the ranking
- 1.1ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan
- 1.2Asiana Airlines
- 1.3Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong
- 1.4EVA Air, Taiwan
- 1.5Hainan Airlines, China
- 1.6Japan Airlines, Japan
- 1.7Korean Air, Korea
- 1.8Qatar Airways, Qatar
- 1.9Singapore Airlines, Singapore
- 1.10Starlux Airlines, Taiwan
- 2The criteria for obtaining five Skytrax stars
The top 10 best airlines in the world: the ranking
As there is no specific ranking among the ten best airlines, they are listed in alphabetical order.
ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan
Japan has historically been synonymous with attention to detail and Asiana Airlines confirms this by offering an excellent customer experience in Economy Class. Furthermore, the fundamental efficiency of the Incheon Airport experience is a positive factor of the travel experience, especially for transfer customers.
Asiana Airlines
Asiana gets 5 stars because it offers a very balanced experience overall, with staff service levels that Skytrax considers among the best in the industry and consistent quality across all travel classes.
Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific is an Asian airline based in Hong Kong, appreciated above all for the quality of its main airport, Hong Kong International, as well as for its on-board products and staff service, both in the cabin and on the ground.
EVA Air, Taiwan
EVA Air is famous above all for having introduced Premium Economy early in 1992, which has now become a standard in the sector. It is a highly regarded company for the balance between quality, efficiency and consistency of staff, both on board and at Taipei Taoyuan Airport, and accessibility.
Hainan Airlines, China
Among major Chinese airlines, Hainan Airlines is often the one with the highest ratings. In fact, it offers excellent standards of products and services on both domestic and international routes.
Japan Airlines, Japan
Similar to ANA, Japan Airlines is also considered among the best in the world for quality of service. In particular, passenger care in Economy is often praised, an aspect that is not always taken for granted in premium airlines.
Korean Air, Korea
Korean Air has established a very positive reputation in recent years. The service is considered professional, constant and well structured in all classes.
Qatar Airways, Qatar
Qatar Airways was one of the first airlines to be awarded 5 stars. Its strong point is above all the Business Class, considered among the best in the world thanks to the famous Qsuite, which has redefined the very concept of a premium cabin.
Singapore Airlines, Singapore
It is one of the most innovative companies in the sector. In fact, it is often cited as an example of how a flying experience can be kept excellent regardless of route or class. The Changi hub is also an essential part of the success of this company.
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan
It is a relatively new Taiwanese airline, but has already entered the rankings of excellence. Its strong point is the modernity of the fleet and the attention to design and on-board experience, with a clearly premium positioning.
The criteria for obtaining five Skytrax stars
When it comes to the best airlines in the world, one of the most cited rankings is that of Skytrax, which has been awarding the World Airline Awards every year since 1999. This is not a ranking based on the opinions of passengers, but an evaluation that combines independent audits and standardized analyzes of the services and products offered by the companies. The classification is based on stars (from 1 to 5) and to obtain the maximum, a company must guarantee a very high and above all constant level throughout the travel experience.
The most recent ranking tells us that the top 10 is made up exclusively of Asian and Middle Eastern airlines, while Europe and the United States, despite having very large carriers, struggle to get into the top positions. Among the reasons for this gap, there are strong investments in airport hubs (such as Doha, Singapore, Dubai), very aggressive long-haul competition and great attention to the passenger experience. As there is no specific ranking among the ten best airlines, they are listed in alphabetical order.
