Qatar Airways named world's best airline for 2026: see the full rankings

Qatar Airways has been crowned the world's best airline, according to the latest rankings from AirlineRatings.com.

The annual list focuses on the in-flight passenger experience, assessing factors such as comfort, value, and choice across an airline's network.

AirlineRatings chief executive Sharon Petersen said the judging panel placed particular emphasis on economy class, where most people travel.

"Qatar Airways offers a 31-32 inch seat pitch, generous blankets, quality meals, amenity kits, a vast entertainment library and Wi-Fi across much of its fleet, making it a strong option for economy passengers," Ms Petersen told Explore.

"At the other end of the aircraft, its Business Class product continues to lead the industry. The Qsuite, in particular, allows four passengers to sit together in a quad configuration, making it ideal for working or meeting during a flight."

Ms Petersen said Qatar's consistent strength lies in its value.

"Its airfares are often among the most competitive when considering both price and product, combined with excellent connections and a vast global network," she said.

She also commended the airline for navigating geopolitical unrest while maintaining a strong focus on safety and supporting affected passengers.

Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and STARLUX Airlines rounded out the top five, with STARLUX making a notable jump from 18th place last year.

Aeromexico dropped out of the rankings, primarily due to customer feedback.

"While the onboard product remains solid, the customer service experience has let the airline down this year," Ms Petersen said.

LOT Polish Airlines is a new addition to the full-service list, recognised for bucking the broader European trend towards low-cost models.

"The airline has moved away from buy-on-board, instead including drinks, snacks and meals in its fares," Ms Petersen said.

Closer to home, Qantas ranked 12th slipping from eighth place, although Ms Petersen said this should not be seen as a significant decline.

"The differences between airlines at this level are extremely small," she said.

She added that the main factor impacting Qantas' ranking was the ageing Business Class product on its Boeing 737 fleet.

"The airline's new Business Class on the Airbus A321XLR is a major step forward and a beautiful product, but it has not yet been rolled out widely enough to outweigh the older cabins currently in service," she said.

Virgin Australia won World's Best Cabin crew for the eighth year, and ranked third globally in the World's Best Hybrid Airlines category.

"We always encourage our crew to bring their own unique flair to work, which makes a real difference to the guest experience and is truly what I believe makes our team the best in the world," Virgin Australia group CEO Dave Emerson said.

In the category of World's Best Business class Cathay Pacific Aria Suite came out on top, followed by Qatar Q Suite and Lufthansa Allegris Suite.

Air New Zealand received the crown of World's Best Economy Class, followed by Singapore Airlines and Korean Air.