Singapore Airlines has been named the World’s Best Airline for 2026, reclaiming the top spot in the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards and moving ahead of longtime rival Qatar Airways.
The Singapore-based carrier received the prestigious honor at the Skytrax awards ceremony in London on September 18. This marks the sixth time Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s best airline, according to Skytrax, whose rankings are based on passenger feedback collected through an international survey.
Qatar Airways, which held the No. 1 position last year, placed second in the 2026 global rankings, followed by Cathay Pacific Airways in third. ANA All Nippon Airways ranked fourth, while Turkish Airlines rounded out the top five. More than 300 airlines were included in this year’s results.
Singapore Airlines also collected additional honors, including World’s Best Economy Class and World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering, highlighting its strong performance across several passenger-service categories.
Although Qatar Airways slipped to second place overall, the airline still received four major awards. It was named World’s Best Business Class Airline for the 13th time, while its Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden received the World’s Best Business Class Lounge award. Qatar Airways also won Best Airline in the Middle East and the inaugural World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi award.
The 2026 results also highlighted the continued strength of Asian and Middle Eastern carriers in the global aviation industry. Six of the top 10 airlines were based in Asia, while Qatar Airways and Emirates represented the Middle East. European carriers had Turkish Airlines as the highest-ranked representative at No. 5.
The rankings come after a challenging period for the global aviation industry, marked by operational pressures, changing passenger expectations and intense competition among international carriers. For Singapore Airlines, the latest recognition adds another milestone to its long history of awards for service and passenger experience.
