Skytrax has released its 2026 World Airline Awards, and Singapore Airlines has reclaimed the top spot from nine-time winner Qatar Airways.
Only one North American airline in the Top 20, and that's Air Canada. I can feel a disturbance in the Force.
Skytrax is a joke. And these rankings are a joke.
Singapore has been chipping away at its excellence. Last trip I had with them they didn't provide an amenity kit nor did they provide pajamas. The pre-ordered food was much less in quantity and quality then it used to be, the quality of wine and spirits was very ordinary. Their business class lounge would struggle to even get in the Top 10 business class lounges in the world. But somehow it's the best airline in the world.
@ BBT -- Respectfully, I'm not sure how that would be chipping away at their excellence? Back in the day, the airline didn't have amenity kits at all, and the carrier hasn't historically had pajamas (though is expected to add them soon). So I understand those are areas where you feel the airline may have fell short, but that has been the status quo at the airline for a long time.
Yes, but that begs the question, how did they get voted into first place. It’s fair enough to wonder. That system might not be terribly reflective of quality.
I do have to agree with BBT. Tend to fly SQ a lot and it’s the small things they don’t get right anymore on short haul and regionals. Used to be 9/10 flights were exceptional and now maybe 4/10. It’s the small things like letting business pax use First class toilets. It’s genuinely small things but they forgot my meal twice in J in the past year alone. They seem to just hide and don’t check in as much anymore in premium cabins. Dealt with broken wifi on many 350s etc.
Of course, this is different to what BBT described issues wise but I do agree that morale at the airline is downhill.
@Apple. I’ve noticed considerable inconsistency in the service on my last few SQ flights. Only one genuinely lived up to the old Singapore Airlines standard, although I accept that service experiences can be subjective.
What is harder to dispute is that SQ’s overall soft product is no longer world-class, not by a long shot. Its hard product is controversial as well. That hardly supports the claim that it is the best airline in the world.
@Ben. Your response misses the central point, and that's very surprising coning from you, a travel super expert.
SQ's J product does not deserve to be ranked the best in the world, far from it
Whether SQ historically offered pajamas or amenity kits is beside the point. Several competing airlines offer them today, along with better catering, superior wines and spirits, more competitive seats, and considerably better lounges. On my last SQ trip, the pre-ordered meal was disappointing in both quantity and quality, the beverage selection was ordinary, and its business-class lounge was nowhere near world-leading. IIRC SQ's business class lounge did not even make it to your Top 10 lounge list.
Being “the best” is a comparison with today’s competitors, not with your own historical practices. Saying SQ never offered certain amenities does not strengthen its claim to the top ranking, it helps illustrate why that ranking is so difficult to justify.
To play Devil's advocate, not having Allegris in any of their planes is (technically) consistent 😉
This is some poor reporting from you, didn't you just do an article last month on a related topic, and no reference or expounding on it? It seems highly correlated that the supposed "beef" between QR and Skytrax is linked to them being dethroned, no?
"Qatar Airways & Skytrax Have Beef: “World’s Best Airline” No More?"
@ yoloswag420 -- I'm not sure how that's poor reporting? Yes, I theorized the airline would lose its ranking of being number one in the world. I didn't feel the need to say "see, I was right," since I'm not sure what that accomplishes?
Ryanair one spot ahead of American is somewhat funny... I guess Ben would recommend switching CEOs? 😉
It's interesting to see how many well-known airlines managed to even get behind Air India. And some people might say that TUI Airways would get a higher ranking by ditching Go2Sky.
American got #4 most improved airline for 2026! Right behind EgyptAir, Air India and Royal Jordanian. I can only assume that's the next headline on this site - would make for an amusing comments section at least.
Wonder what Qatar got for their hissy fit a few weeks ago. You wouldn't know anything was wrong based on the Qatar press release. Maybe they pulled strings so that Oneworld could win best alliance? Star Alliance had won that one for the last 5 years or so?
Who knows. Palace intrigue that has the importance of, well, absolutely nothing.
I feel that these awards just aren’t useful. It’s only really meant for publicity so that people can be incentivized to choose one airline over another. I feel greater value comes from reviewers and also YouTubers. Simply Aviation is personally my favorite YouTuber, tho I also enjoy watching Jeb Brooks, probably more for entertainment purposes than being scientific but he’s honest and humble when he does review things which I like a lot.
Personally, I wasn’t impressed with SQ either. While I didn’t try their premium cabins (yet), in Economy it just felt like they did their textbook service and then went hiding into the galley. Akin to a domestic AA flight.
My contender for best airline across all cabins would be EY, EK, or QR. Haven’t flown JL, JX, or CX to compare them.
They may have gone into hiding but if you want or need anything they will respond promptly and happily to the call button.
Cathay Pacific: world's most elusive award seat
Can't believe JAL is below Hainan :/
Hahaha your 2 favs JAL and AF are way down on the list
Is this the reason why QR decided to cut ties with Skytrax as was recently reported or is there more?
Being 2nd to Singapore Airlines is really nothing to shy from, is it?
Tbh, last time I flew in Q Suites all you can eat at any time was a thing of the past. While that will reduce food waste significantly it also results in a degraded on board experience.
I’m fly SQ Monday JFK FRA. Nice but tRumps war made me switch from SIN to FRA in Suites. Plus no Seat 1A in UA SFO to SIN.
HOME STILL THE SAME ON LH 747-8.
Taking train to Berlin Any Recommendations for Berlin activities
I remember the days where Singapore and Cathay were neck & neck with Emirates and even British thrown in.
Flights on the 744 and A346 were a great way to fly! (Excuse the Singapore slogan pun)
I miss the days of Singapore naming their aircraft (Megatop for the 744, Jubilee for the 772, Celstar for the A343, Leadership for the A345 and so on)
Ansett apparently has won an award as well.
*Qatar oil revenues down*
*Singapore check clears*
Skytrax: Ok, we’re ready to announce…
Flew SQ in 2025 JFK-SIN-SYD & MEL-SIN-EWR
The flights to and from SIN to the US were good but the crews were eager to get off after those 18 hour non-stops. Great food in Premium Economy. Their new service rolled out recently. Windows remained shut throughout the 18 hour stretches. lots of water and drink runs.
SIN-SYD was in J and my best flight ever. I hope you don't mind me posting the video here (wink).
https://youtu.be/b3DhHaZc2qM
MEL-SIN while great with meals, movies etc the SQ girls were lacking in service. No smiles while the guys were at least better. Maybe just so many flights between Singapore and Down Under?
Full playlist
Around the world with Singapore Airlines - March 2025: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGXvXZxUyg-0Bpj7Sle_KP_rZciaz68yI
I don’t see a problem with Skytrax’ Lufthansa rating back in 2017. For years to come, Lufthansa consistently did not offer a single plane with Allegris. It doesn’t get more consistent.
Someone that has Flown Qatar several times in the past 2 years(Platinum But Gold now), I have to agree with the Downgrade of Qatar. I noticed the Difference in the last 2 years.
a)The quality of service, FA's are not as attentive, just too busy stuffing their Faces even when they are supposed to be working. b)Toilets not being cleaned as Frequently.
c) The influx of Indian FAs, DOH to SFO Flights has probably 99% Indian Crew in Business Class.If the thinking is because many passengers are Indian expatriates, they are wrong! even if that is the case, they assume the needs of Indian passengers better, which is wrong.
d) The choice in movies is not the same as past, very low Budget movies as "New".
@Qatar Airways is not the same anymore!, racist much? Why would having Indian FAs make any difference? They all go through the same training. Plus, you cannot always tell where people are from by just looking at them.