18-06-2025
Africa's best airlines ranked: SAA 67th in Skytrax Top 100
Cape Town travellers, your favourite airlines just got a serious stamp of approval. In the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, FlySafair and Lift have been crowned the top two low-cost carriers in Africa - proving that punctual flights and decent legroom don't need to cost a fortune.
Meanwhile, SAA climbed two spots to rank #67 globally, continuing its slow but steady comeback to international relevance. Whether you're jetting to Joburg or heading abroad, Cape Town International continues to be a launchpad for some of Africa's top airlines in the skies.
Here's how Skytrax stacked them all up in its Top 100 airlines for 2025
✈️ Africa-Based Airlines in the Skytrax Top 100 for 2025
1. Ethiopian Airlines – Ethiopia (38 in 2025, 35 in 2024
2. Air Mauritius – Mauritius (63 in 2025, 85 in 2024)
3. RwandAir – Rwanda (64 in 2025, 81 in 2024)
4. South African Airways – South Africa (67 in 2025, 69 in 2024)
5. Egyptair – Egypt (68 in 2025, 88 in 2024)
6. Royal Air Maroc – Morocco (70 in 2025, 55 in 2024)
7. Kenya Airways – Kenya (89 in 2025, 77 in 2024)
🌍 Skytrax Top 10 Airlines - 2025
The top 10 airlines in the world, according to Skytrax, predominantly hail from Asia and the Middle East, showcasing the rise of premium service hubs such as Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates, in comparison to traditional legacy carriers in Europe and the Americas.
1. Qatar Airways – Qatar (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024)
2. Singapore Airlines – Singapore (2 in 2025, 2 in 2024)
3. Cathay Pacific Airways – Hong Kong (3 in 2025, 5 in 2024)
4. Emirates – United Arab Emirates (4 in 2025, 3 in 2024)
5. ANA (All Nippon Airways) – Japan (5 in 2025, 4 in 2024)
6. Turkish Airlines – Turkey (6 in 2025, 7 in 2024)
7. Korean Air – South Korea (7 in 2025, 11 in 2024)
8. Air France – France (8 in 2025, 9 in 2024)
9. Japan Airlines – Japan (9 in 2025, 6 in 2024)
10. Hainan Airlines – China (10 in 2025, 12 in 2024)
🛩️ Best Low-Cost Airlines in Africa – 2025
Africa's top low-cost carriers are making regional travel more accessible than ever, led by firm local favourites FlySafair and LIFT, according to the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards.
1. FlySafair – South Africa
2. LIFT – South Africa
3. Fastjet – Zimbabwe
4. Jambojet – Kenya
5. fly540 – Kenya
Cape Town's skyward ambitions show no signs of slowing. As new routes from Windhoek to Mauritius roll out, the city edges closer to becoming one of Africa's most connected hubs. And with global leaders like Qatar Airways, Singapore and Ethiopian Airlines among the carriers touching down, the bar for quality and reliability rises.
