World's best airlines revealed as local carrier surges up global ranks

The "Oscars of Aviation" are in, and while one international carrier has snatched the crown as the world's best, a local favourite managed to hold its ground among the global top 20.

The 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, known as the Oscars of the airline industry, has named Singapore Airlines the best airline in the world for the sixth time, voted by passengers across 100 nationalities around the world.

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said the award 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," Plaisted said.

Singapore Airlines was one of the early sign-ups for the new Western Sydney International Airport, with flights set to take off on November 23.

In second place was Qatar Airways, a nine times winner and toppled from its post as best airline in 2025.

It also won the world's best business class airline for the 13th time, for its legendary Qsuite, offering privacy and space that rivals first class cabins. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific took second and third place for best business class.

Qatar's Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden was named the world's best business class lounge, and Qatar Airways was named the best airline in the Middle East and also won the world's best onboard wi-fi.

Hamad Al Khater, Qatar Airways Group CEO thanked the airline's staff for delivering "the best experience in the world" for its passengers, despite a "particularly challenging year".

In third place was Cathay Pacific Airways which also won world's best cabin crew, and world's best first class airline Lounge for its luxurious The Wing Lounge.

Qantas was the only Aussie airline to rank among the top 20.

It came in at number 12 in the world, up from 14 last year, and was also named best airline in Australia and the Pacific, and won best airline staff service in the region.

Dr Garth Lean, Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Heritage Studies at the University of Western Sydney, said this is a "reasonable result", but the real challenge for Qantas is the airlines coming in above it.

"Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, ANA and Turkish Airlines have invested heavily in their aircraft, lounges, food, technology and service. Some of these airlines also have significant government ownership or backing," Lean told Explore.

He said Australia's remote location and lack of a central transit hub force Qantas into costly long-haul flights.

"Qantas does not have the same hub advantage as airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines, which can funnel large volumes of connecting passengers between regions," Lean told Explore.

He said it will be interesting to see whether Qantas's position changes in future years following its "significant fleet renewal".

Qantas Group CEO, Vanessa Hudson, said she was "very proud" to see Qantas recognised among the world's best, "particularly because it is customers who decide it".

But Mark Trim, managing director of Flat Beds, said there is a "huge geographical bias" with the Skytrax awards due to the population size of the voters.

"Over 100 nationalities are surveyed, so by nature both Qantas and Air New Zealand are unlikely to feature particularly high, given we are a smaller, isolated market," Trim told Explore.

He said it is "nearly impossible" for Qantas and several other quality airlines to be "fairly ranked".

He said there were no surprises in the top two, however ANA taking fourth position ahead of Emirates is "somewhat of a surprise" given ANA's on board product "differs so greatly across their fleet".

"For example, for premium travellers flying on ANA's 'The Room', a genuine contender to the Qsuite, the product is dramatically different to their far more basic 787 Business Class that is used to/from Australia," Trim said.

He said it's increasingly important to book based on the aircraft type, "as many airlines are in the midst of a slow fleet transition".

"Carriers including Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Turkish Airlines and more have huge discrepancies in the seat type and onboard experience depending on the aircraft, especially in premium cabins," he said.

Virgin Australia wasn't among the top 20 though its partner airline, Virgin Atlantic, came in at number 18.

The best low-cost carrier went to AirAsia, a title it has won every year since 2010, while Scoot took the gong for world's best long-hail low-coast airline.

At the other end of the spectrum, Air France won world's best first class and best first class dining. It was followed by Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa.

Taiwan's EVA Air won best premium economy class followed by Emirates and Singapore Airlines. EVA also won the most family friendly airline.

The best economy class went to Singapore Airlines, followed by Cathay Pacific and Qatar.

The cleanest airline in the world went to Starlux Airlines.