With so much choice, how do you know which airlines offer the best flying experience? A great place to start is the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, which recognise carriers that go the extra mile – based on a global customer satisfaction survey covering 325 airlines.

From first-rate cabin crew to the top regional carriers and the most family-friendly airlines, we’ve rounded up the winners for 2025.

Click through to discover which airlines came out on top, including the world’s best overall airline…

We start with the award for World's Most Improved Airline, which for 2025 goes to Taiwan’s STARLUX Airlines. Founded in 2018, STARLUX has also been certified as a ‘5-Star Airline’ by Skytrax, scoring highly for factors including on-board amenities and service.

As the name suggests, this award is all about recognising airlines that have made considerable improvements in their service across the board. The top three is rounded out by Italy’s ITA Airways, which came second, and Hong Kong’s budget airline HK Express, which came third. 

The award for World’s Cleanest Airline goes to another Taiwanese carrier – EVA Air. Also boasting Skytrax's 5-Star Airline certification, EVA recently partnered with Southwest Airlines to expand services across North America.

While it might sound like it’s based on environmental credentials, Skytrax actually gives this award to the airline that demonstrates the highest levels of cleanliness on board. Second was Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways, with Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways slipping from first last year to third.

Great on-board service is key to an enjoyable flying experience and Skytrax has found that Singapore Airlines has this year’s World’s Best Airline Cabin Crew. Based at Changi Airport, Singapore’s flag carrier retains the title from last year.

For this award, cabin crew are assessed for various factors including efficiency, friendliness and hospitality. The runner-up was ANA All Nippon Airways, with Cathay Pacific Airways third – in fact, the top 10 are all Asia-based airlines.

For 2025, Cathay Pacific Airways retains its place as the airline with the World’s Best Economy Class. Economy travellers enjoy the ergonomic seating and adjustable headrests, as well as great food and the services of the airline’s highly-rated cabin crew.

In second place is Qatar Airways, with Singapore Airlines in third. Skytrax digs even deeper in this category – awarding the World's Best Economy Class Onboard Catering to EVA Air, while Japan Airlines offers the World's Best Economy Class Airline Seat.

The World’s Best Premium Economy Class award goes to the UK’s Virgin Atlantic – breaking the dominance of Asia-based airlines. This class offers priority boarding, extra legroom and more spacious seats, as well as premium catering and even a glass of fizz.

Japan Airlines drops from first last year into second place, with Emirates in third. Within this category, Virgin also scoops the award for World's Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering and Emirates gets World's Best Premium Economy Class Seat.

This year's World’s Best Business Class Airline is Qatar Airways. The class offers an on-demand à la carte menu, WiFi service on selected routes and touch screen TVs. The seats also convert to beds, while complimentary body care products and loungewear are provided.

Second and third places went to Singapore Airlines and ANA All Nippon Airways, respectively. Qatar also scooped World's Best Business Class Seat for its Q-Suite (pictured), while its Al Mourjan Garden lounge in Doha was named the World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge.

The World's Best First-Class Airline is Singapore Airlines, according to Skytrax. Travellers paying for first class expect the very best and Singapore delivers, with pre-bookable gourmet dining, fine wines and Champagne, and no less than 1,800 entertainment options.

Also scoring highly are Emirates in second place and Air France in third. Singapore Airlines also claims Best First-Class Onboard Catering, with its A380 Suites winning the Best First-Class Airline Seat. Lufthansa’s Frankfurt Lounge is 2025's Best First-Class Airline Lounge.

Retaining its title as the World’s Best Regional Airline is Bangkok Airways. In fact, the Thai carrier has now scooped this award for nine consecutive years. As well as serving its home base, the airline flies routes to Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, the Maldives and Singapore.

Taking second place for short-haul air travel is Virgin Australia, while third place belongs to Canada’s Porter Airlines. Bangkok Airways also scoops the award for Best Regional Airline in Asia – again, for the ninth year in a row.

There is more recognition for Porter Airlines as it scoops the award for Best Regional Airline in North America, retaining the title from last year. A relative newcomer – founded in 2006 – the Toronto-based airline serves destinations across Canada, the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

The North American top three is rounded out by jetBlue Airways in second and Alaska Airlines in third. Other regional winners include RwandAir for Africa, Greece’s Aegean Airlines for Europe and Tianjin Airlines for China.

For 2025, Skytrax has found Malaysia’s AirAsia is the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline – for the 16th consecutive year, no less. Based in Kuala Lumpur, the carrier serves destinations across Southeast Asia, India, China, Japan and Australia.

In second place is Singapore Airlines’ budget subsidiary Scoot, with Delhi-based IndiGo in third. AirAsia also tops the list of the Best Low-Cost Airlines in Asia. Other regional winners include Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air for North America and Germany’s Eurowings for Europe.

Winning the tricky category of World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline for the fifth year running is Scoot. The budget carrier offers comfortable low-cost travel to more than 70 destinations across Asia, Australia and India. It recently launched non-stop flights from Singapore to Vienna.

Scoot also has a partnership with Pokémon, with themed in-flight experiences and its distinctive ‘Pikachu Jet TR’ (pictured). Rounding out the top three in this category are Jetstar Airways – part of Australia’s Qantas Group – and Air Canada’s low-cost carrier, Air Canada Rouge.

Claiming the award for the World’s Most Family-Friendly Airline is Lufthansa. Germany’s flag carrier scores highly across areas of service designed to make flying with kids easier – including family seating policies, on-board entertainment and children’s meals.

Lufthansa also offers pre-boarding for families with young children and even dedicated play areas in some airports. In second place is last year’s winner, British Airways, with Emirates in third. Regional winners in this category include Air Canada for North America and Singapore Airlines for Asia.

Now let’s look at some of the leading carriers by geographic region, starting with the Best Airline in South America – Chile’s LATAM. The airline, which retains its title from last year, serves over 160 destinations, including London, Paris and Frankfurt.

LATAM scoops multiple Skytrax awards across the region in 2025, including Cleanest Airline and Best Cabin Crew. Rounding out the top three best South American airlines are Azul Brazilian and Santiago-based JetSMART.

Moving on to the Best Airline in Africa, which Skytrax has once again awarded to Ethiopian Airlines – for the seventh consecutive year. Based at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the airline also claims the awards for Best Economy Class and Best Business Class in its region.

Ethiopian Airlines serves destinations across Africa, Asia, North and South America and Europe. Africa’s second-best airline is Air Mauritius, while RwandAir came third.

Retaining its title of the Best Airline in Asia for another year is Singapore Airlines. In fact, the airline scooped no less than 11 Skytrax awards this year across various world and regional categories. Along with its budget subsidiary Scoot, it serves over 120 international destinations.

The carrier recently expanded its popular direct Singapore Changi Airport to London Gatwick route, adding a further daily flight. Rounding out the top three best airlines in Asia are Cathay Pacific Airways and ANA All Nippon Airways.

On to the Best Airline in the Australia/Pacific region, which for 2025 has been awarded to Qantas Airways. Australia’s flag carrier picks up eight regional awards this year, including Best Economy Class and Best Cabin Crew.

The airline, which serves over 65 domestic and 35 international destinations, recently debuted its next-gen Airbus A321XLR, as part of its fleet renewal programme. The top three best Australia/Pacific airlines are rounded out by Air New Zealand at number two and Fiji Airways at three.

Holding onto its title of the Best Airline in Europe is Turkish Airlines – one of eight Skytrax awards it received in 2025. Founded in 1933, the airline, which is based at Istanbul Airport, currently serves around 45 domestic and 240 international destinations.

In the first eight months of 2025, the airline transported an impressive 60.7 million passengers. The runner-up in the category of best European airline is Air France, with Swiss International Air Lines taking third place.

Moving to the Best Airline in North America, which Skytrax has found to be Air Canada – winner of six regional awards this year. The airline recently announced an expansion of services for 2026, including new routes to Catania in Sicily and Palma de Mallorca in Spain.

It’s also the only North American carrier that offers a direct, non-stop service to Bangkok, which it now runs year-round. In second place is last year’s winner Delta Air Lines, with Porter Airlines in third.

Skytrax has found the Best Airline in Central America and the Caribbean to be Copa Airlines, which retains the title from 2024. The flag carrier of Panama is based out of the country’s Tocumen International Airport.

The airline was founded in 1947 – with investment from America’s Pan Am – when it served three cities in Panama. Copa has since grown to serve around 80 destinations across the Americas and the Caribbean. In second place in this category is Caribbean Airlines, with Dominican Republic-based Arajet in third.

Retaining its title of World’s Best Airline Overall for 2025 is Qatar Airways, according to Skytrax’s global passenger satisfaction survey. The Doha-based carrier impresses with its award-winning service, on-board dining and entertainment.

It also has a modern aircraft fleet, with planes that are an average of just five years old, and which serve 150 global destinations. Second place is claimed by Singapore Airlines, with Cathay Pacific Airways in third. Emirates and ANA All Nippon Airways round off the top five.

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