Singapore Airlines ranked first, marking the sixth time the city-state’s national carrier has been named the world’s best airline. It last claimed the title in 2023.
Thai Airways ranked 20th, up nine places from last year.
Thailand’s largest airline will operate a 66-route network under its winter 2026/27 timetable from Oct. 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027, covering the country’s peak tourism season.
Malaysia Airlines has also climbed six places to 21st, marking further progress in its transformation supported by continued investment across its people, product, fleet, network and customer offerings.
Malaysia-based AirAsia ranked 26th, up two places from last year. It also maintained its position as the world’s best low-cost carrier for the 17th consecutive year.
Singapore’s budget carrier Scoot ranked 28th, up two places from last year, while Thailand’s Bangkok Airways ranked 29th, also climbing two places.
Vietnam Airlines ranked 55th, up one place from last year.
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A Vietnam Airlines aircraft lands at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, June 15, 2020. Photo by Read/Quynh Tran |
Brunei’s Royal Brunei Airlines ranked 93rd, up 8 places from last year.
Vietnam’s newest carrier Sun PhuQuoc Airways also appeared on the list, at 99th. The airline recently expanded a series of new routes connecting Phu Quoc with Asian tourism hubs such as Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
Often dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry”, the Skytrax World Airline Awards are among the most respected recognitions in global aviation, with the results based on the annual World Airline Survey and the views of travelers worldwide.
The annual world rankings survey was conducted from September 2025 to August 2026, with travelers of more than 100 nationalities rating over 325 airlines.
Qatar Airways, last year’s top airline, took second place in 2026, with Cathay Pacific Airways coming in third. All Nippon Airways ranked fourth while Turkish Airlines rounded out the top five.