World’s Best Airline Awards
It's an amazing thing that we can fly. The fact that the human race has built airplanes that can transport people all around the world is truly mind-blowing. But as incredible as flight is—air travel itself has left much to be desired in recent years, with airlines raising prices and seemingly pulling back on any kind of amenities that used to make air travel such a joy.
Well, there are still some great airlines out there that seem to truly care about the customer and their overall experience and comfort. And according to the site AirlineRatings, these are the best of the best based on passenger comfort, feedback, and product consistency across an airline’s route network.
They've split up their rankings among three airline categories: full service, hybrid, and low-cost airlines. So, we will look at the winners in each, starting with full service.
What Is A Full Service Airline?
A full service airline (aka traditional/legacy airline) is one that provides more services to customers than hybrid, and especially low-cost airlines. For example: In-flight entertainment, meals, seat selection, multiple cabin classes (economy, premium economy, business, and first class).
And for AirlineRatings to even consider an airline for this list, it must: "offer a comprehensive full-service experience, including meals, snacks, and beverages regardless of flight duration. The economy seat pitch must be a minimum of 31 inches, and business class must provide lie-flat beds. Additionally, a seven-star safety rating is required, along with a modern fleet, consistency in in-flight product across the fleet, and a strong financial standing".
These are the top 25 full service airlines in the world...
Full Service: 25 To 20
25: Garuda Indonesia
24: Air Mauritius
23: Air Calin
22: KLM
21: Air France
20: Sri Lankan Airlines
Fakhrizain, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Full Service: 19 To 11
19: Vietnam Airlines
18: STARLUX Airlines
17: Thai Airways
16: Air Caraibes
15: Aero Mexico
14: ANA
13: Virgin Atlantic
12: Fiji Airways
11: EVA Air
U.S. Air Force, Sgt. Kevin Wallace, Wikimedia Commons
Full Service: 10 To 2
10: Turkish Airlines
9: Etihad
8: Qantas
7: Japan Airlines
6: Emirates
5: Singapore Airlines
4: Cathay Pacific
3: Air New Zealand
2: Qatar
It might surprise some to see Qatar at number two—as they do usually find themselves atop most such lists. In fact, they were ranked number one by AirlineRatings last year (the eigth time they've been at the top). But this year, there's a new top dog of the full service airline world...
Best Full Service Airline: Korean Air
Given that most people fly Economy class, the judges put extra emphasis on the Economy experience. And Korean Air shined bright here (not taking anything away from their top-notch Business and First Class products as well). Along with other top 10 finisher Japan Airlines, Korean Air provides the most spacious Economy class seating of any airline in the world.
"As other carriers continue to prioritize capacity over passenger experience, Korean Air demonstrates how airlines can balance efficiency with an exceptional passenger experience and strong business fundamentals".
And now for the hybrids...
What Is A Hybrid Airline?
The hybrid airline is a variant that emerged pretty recently—say around 2017 or so. These airlines were former full-service only airlines that switched up their business to compete with the low-cost airlines that had emerged and were taking away much of their short and medium haul business.
These hybrids, to quote the site: "typically offer a mix of low-cost features on short- to medium-haul routes in economy and business class, while providing a premium full-service experience on medium- to long-haul flights across all cabin classes".
Hybrid Must Haves
To even be considered as one of the best in this category, AirlineRatings demanded a hybrid airline offer: "a minimum seat pitch of 30 inches in economy class and provide complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Airlines with recliner seats in business class and in-flight entertainment will be ranked higher".
These are the top hybrid airlines in the world for 2025...
Hybrid: 20 To 11
20: SAS
19: ITA
18: Hawaiian
17: Austrian Airlines
16: Finnair
15: British Airways
14: Iberia
13: Avianca
12: SWISS
11: Alaska Airlines
Konstantin von Wedelstaedt, GFDL 1.2, Wikimedia Commons
Hybrid: 10 To 2
10: TAP Portugal
9: LOT Polish Airlines
8: Air Canada
7: Lufthansa
6: American Airlines
5: United
4: Delta Airlines
3: Virgin Australia
2: WestJet
Founded in 1994, WestJet is now the second-largest airline in Canada. But it is an American hybrid airline founded four years later that stands above them all...
Best Hybrid Airline: JetBlue
As one of the pioneers of the hybrid model, JetBlue has been a trendsetter in the category. And while "both airlines (WestJet and JetBlue) strike a balance between affordability and quality, JetBlue’s broader range of complimentary perks gives it the edge".
And now for low-cost airlines...
Low-Cost Must Haves
When selecting the best in this category, AirlineRatings only considered "airlines that offer a combination of affordable on-board services, such as meals, drinks, and snacks. Additional services like Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment may be available for purchase. The highest-ranked low-cost carriers offer exceptionally low base fares and maintain an excellent route network. These airlines must also meet rigorous safety standards, including a seven-star safety rating".
These are the top low-cost airlines in the world for 2025...
Phuong D. Nguyen, Shutterstock
Low-Cost: 20 To 11
20: Vueling
19: Wizz
18: Jet2
17: Volaris
16: Air Arabia
15: Indi GO
14: Norwegian
13: TUI
12: FlyNas
11: SKY Airline
Astra 91, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Low-Cost: 10 To 2
10: Southwest
9: Breeze
8: Scoot
7: Ryanair
6: FlyDubai
5: EasyJet
4: HK Express
3: AirBaltic
2: Jetstar
Australian low-cost airline Jetstar would've taken the top spot had it not been for...
Jetstar Airways (jetstar.com), CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Best Low-Cost Airline: AirAsia
In response to their win, the AirAsia CEO had this to say: "This is a significant acknowledgement of the incredible efforts made by the team at AirAsia X as we have been laser focused on delivering the very best value and service for medium haul air travel spanning Australia, Asia, and beyond".
But what about the UItra Low-Cost airlines?
World's Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline
While the site didn't produce a top 20 list, they did name the top two in the Ultra Low-Cost category—with Cebu Pacific being the runner-up to the top airline in the category: Vietjet.
"VietJet has mastered the art of delivering exceptional value to passengers, combining competitive fares with a reliable and innovative service model. Their ability to make air travel accessible to millions without compromising on safety or efficiency sets them apart. In addition to this, our onboard reviews have noticed time and time again the dedication of their crew to help all passengers and that is something we highly regard".
But what about the regional airlines?
World’s Best Regional Airline
Again, they didn't put out a top 20 list in the regional category—but they did name Aegean Air the runner-up to the category champion: Virgin Australia Regional.
"VARA has consistently delivered an outstanding travel experience, combining efficiency and customer focus to meet the needs of regional and Fly-in ,Fly-out (FiFo) travelers".
Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Deserving Winners?
Do you agree with the award winners? Do your experiences with any of these "Top" airlines jive with their high rankings? Feel free to leave a comment and name your winners in each category should you have one.
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