The world's best airline? Not if you're flying in economy class
That would be Emirates, which has spacious, comfortable seats in its cheapest class, not to mention large high-definition TVs loaded up with plenty of good entertainment, and economy-class meals that are clearly world-leaders: you get a proper, printed menu in economy, and then large trays filled with well-thought-out, tasty meals and sides that are all paired with very nice wines.
Qatar's economy class isn't as good as that. Sure, the company's planes are very new and its cabins are comfortable. But its entertainment options aren't quite as good, and its food is a clear step down from Emirates.
The service on both airlines, meanwhile, is good, but it's not as good as Singapore Airlines, which came in second on Skytrax's list for the second year in a row.
So, what is really the best airline in the world? Emirates. No, Singapore. Or maybe it really is Qatar, given the quality of its business class?
Let's put that aside though and look, instead, at some of the other surprises on Skytrax's list, or at least the positions I find a little strange.
The top five is reasonable: Qatar, Singapore, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and ANA. But then we have Air France at No.8, and Hainan Airlines at No.10. Those airlines seem suspiciously high to me, particularly when you discover that Air New Zealand, a perfectly good airline, is all the way back at No.24. Is it really that much worse than Air France?
Qantas, meanwhile, is the 14th best airline in the world. I mean, is it? Qantas has certainly improved since the nadir of public outrage around the COVID-19 pandemic and its appalling treatment of customers, not to mention the airline's determination to outsource much of its on-ground service to cheaper overseas companies (in one case, illegally).
But No.14 seems high to me. Is Qantas that much better than, say, Etihad, which came in at No.26? Or is it that much better than Asiana, another strangely average entry at No.41? When your meal is just a little plastic tub of soggy noodles eaten with a wooden fork, you would have to say no.
Lufthansa is apparently the 15th best airline in the world, which seems laughable to me after the multiple delayed or cancelled flights and three occasions of lost luggage that I experienced with the airline last year. This is not a good outfit.
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Virgin Australia came in at No.34, which seems harsh given the airline is just ahead of Kazakhstan's Air Astana, and just behind China Southern and Bangkok Airways. Ouch.
And then there's Jetstar, languishing all the way back at No.88, in the celebrated company of Kenya Airways, FlyArystan (Kazakhstan's low-cost carrier), and Air India. To put that further into perspective, Ryanair is No.61, and EasyJet is No.59.
I'm not here to tell you Jetstar is a great airline, but it's also not that bad. It's comfortable enough, reliable enough too (its on-time performance is currently about 80 per cent, which isn't great, but also not disastrous). Service is friendly. Food, if you can be bothered purchasing some, is nice enough.
US airlines don't do particularly well with Skytrax, which seems fair. The best of them is Delta at No.22, with United at No.51 and Alaska Airlines at No.69. Hard to argue. Air Canada, meanwhile, is a comparatively lofty No.19.
And No.100? Hawaiian Airlines. That also seems a bit rough, given 99 is Air Serbia, and 98 is China Eastern.
Still, you can't expect to just agree with a list.
The world's top 20 airlines in 2025
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Emirates
ANA All Nippon Airways
Turkish Airlines
Korean Air
Air France
Japan Airlines
Hainan Airlines
Swiss Int'l Air Lines
EVA Air
British Airways
Qantas Airways
Lufthansa
Virgin Atlantic
Saudi Arabian Airlines
STARLUX Airlines
Air Canada
Iberia
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