SIA reclaims world’s best airline title, AirAsia takes low-cost honours

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has reclaimed its title as the world's best airline, according to the latest Skytrax rankings released on September 19. This achievement comes after Qatar Airways, which held the top spot in the 2025 rankings, was displaced by SIA. The top five airlines in the rankings also included Cathay Pacific Airways from Hong Kong, Japan's ANA All Nippon Airways, and Turkish Airlines.

SIA's sixth-place finish in the World Airline Awards marks the airline's sixth overall victory in the competition, with its previous win occurring in 2023. SIA secured second place behind Qatar Airways in the 2025 rankings. For Malaysian travelers, AirAsia continues to hold its title as the world's best low-cost carrier for the 17th consecutive year.

SIA's low-cost subsidiary Scoot retained the world's best long-haul low-cost airline title for a sixth straight year. The rankings were compiled from a Skytrax survey conducted from September 2025 to August 2026, which involved more than 24.8 million travelers from over 100 nationalities. AirAsia's 17th consecutive year as the world's best low-cost airline underscores its consistent performance in the industry.