Qatar Airways Crowned World’s Best Airline for 2025
The aviation industry’s most prestigious awards were handed out this week at the 2025 World Airline Awards during the Paris Air Show. For an impressive ninth time, Qatar Airways took home the top honor as “World’s Best Airline.”
How Airlines Were Ranked
The awards are based on customer feedback from an extensive global passenger survey conducted between September 2024 and May 2025. Over 325 airlines were evaluated by travelers from more than 100 countries.
Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax (which organizes the awards), noted: “Quality consistency is clearly well recognized by customers when they vote for these airlines.”
Top 10 Airlines in the World
Here are the elite carriers that made the 2025 list:
- Qatar Airways (also won Best Business Class and Best Business Class Lounge)
- Singapore Airlines (Best Cabin Crew and Best First Class)
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
- ANA All Nippon Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- Korean Air
- Air France
- Japan Airlines
- Hainan Airlines
North American Standouts
While no U.S. airlines cracked the global top 20, several North American carriers received recognition:
- Air Canada – Best in North America
- Delta Air Lines – Best Airline Staff Service in North America (ranked 22nd globally)
- Porter Airlines – Third best in North America
Air Canada’s Toronto Pearson Signature Suite also earned honors for Best Business Class Lounge Dining.
Final Thoughts
Qatar Airways’ continued dominance in these awards shows their unwavering commitment to excellence. What’s particularly interesting is how Middle Eastern and Asian carriers consistently outperform their Western counterparts in passenger satisfaction. While U.S. airlines like Delta are making strides in service quality, there’s clearly room for improvement to compete with the world’s best. For travelers prioritizing comfort and service, these results suggest looking eastward when booking long-haul flights. The complete lack of American carriers in the top 20 should serve as a wake-up call for the U.S. aviation industry.
