Air travel

The best in-flight experience in the world? These are the top 5 airlines in 2025 according to Skytrax

The aviation industry’s Oscars were held in France this week, with the World’s Best Airline award going to the same carrier as last year.

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William Allen

British journalist and translator who joined Diario AS in 2013. Focuses on soccer – chiefly the Premier League, LaLiga, the Champions League, the Liga MX and MLS. On occasion, also covers American sports, general news and entertainment. Fascinated by the language of sport – particularly the under-appreciated art of translating cliché-speak.

Update: Jun 18th, 2025 18:02 EDT

Qatar Airways was named the World’s Best Airline at this week’s Skytrax World Airline Awards - the ninth time the carrier has claimed top honors at the event.

Described as the aviation industry’s answer to the Oscars, the World Airline Awards are handed out based on the results of an annual customer satisfaction survey conducted by Skytrax, a U.K.-based company that rates airlines and airports.

Qatar retains Best Airline status

Qatar Airways, the Middle Eastern country’s flag carrier, claimed the Skytrax accolade for the second year in a row, finishing ahead of Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific in Tuesday’s ceremony at the Paris Air Show.

Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are both frequent former recipients of the World’s Best Airline award, which has been presented by Skytrax since 2001. Another previous winner, Emirates, also made it into 2025’s top five.

The World’s Best Airline 2025 - Skytrax’s top five:

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific
4. Emirates
5. All Nippon Airways

You can take a look at the full ranking of the world’s top 100 airlines on Skytrax’s website.

“Extraordinary honor”

“Being named the World’s Best Airline for the ninth time is an extraordinary honor,” said Qatar Airways Group’s CEO, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.

“This recognition is far more than an award, it is a celebration of the passion, precision and purpose that defines who we are as an airline.

“To retain this title in a highly competitive and ever-evolving global industry reflects the relentless efforts across every part of the business, from the frontline to behind the scenes, the passion and commitment of our people continue to set new standards in aviation.”

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said: “We welcomed back a large number of previous winners and were also delighted to see new faces and airlines represented here today.

“As is indicated by so many former winning airlines being present, quality consistency is clearly well recognised by customers when they vote for these airlines.”

The best in-flight experience in the world? These are the top 5 airlines in 2025 according to Skytrax — A Qatar Airways cargo Boeing 777 plane takes off from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy-en-France near Paris, France, December 2, 2021.Sarah Meyssonnier

Taiwanese carrier rewarded for improvement

Among other accolades presented at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, Singapore Airlines scooped World’s Best Cabin Crew and World’s Best First Class, while Taiwan’s Starlux Airline was named World’s Most Improved Airline.

Skytrax’s World’s Best Airline - every winner:

2025: Qatar Airways
2024: Qatar Airways
2023: Singapore Airlines
2022: Qatar Airways
2021: Qatar Airways
2019: Qatar Airways
2018: Singapore Airlines
2017: Qatar Airways
2016: Emirates
2015: Qatar Airways
2014: Cathay Pacific
2013: Emirates
2012: Qatar Airways
2011: Qatar Airways
2010: Asiana Airlines
2009: Cathay Pacific
2008: Singapore Airlines
2007: Singapore Airlines
2006: British Airways
2005: Cathay Pacific
2004: Singapore Airlines
2003: Cathay Pacific
2002: Emirates
2001: Emirates