At the prestigious 2025 World Airline Awards held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, Qatar Airways once again claimed the top honour of World’s Best Airline, marking its ninth win in the awards’ 26-year history. The awards, presented by Skytrax, are often dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry,” recognising excellence in global airline service based entirely on customer satisfaction surveys.
Qatar Airways’ Group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, celebrated the milestone as a testament to the airline’s precision, passion, and purpose, highlighting wins in several key categories:
- World’s Best Business Class
- Best Airline in the Middle East
- World’s Best Business Class Lounge (Al Mourjan Garden Lounge)
To celebrate the win, Qatar Airways is offering savings of up to 10% on flight bookings plus up to 9,000 bonus Avios with Privilege Club for bookings from 19 to 22 June 2025.
The 2025 awards reflected not just consistency in service, but a competitive global field. Singapore Airlines placed second overall, sweeping titles for:
- World’s Best Cabin Crew
- World’s Best First Class
- Best Airline in Asia
Cathay Pacific Airways surged to third place and was named the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment provider, outranking Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Here’s how the Top 20 Airlines in 2025 ranked:
| Rank | Airline | Notable Award(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar Airways | World’s Best Airline, Best Business Class |
| 2 | Singapore Airlines | Best Cabin Crew, Best First Class |
| 3 | Cathay Pacific | Best Inflight Entertainment |
| 4 | Emirates | Consistently strong in First Class |
| 5 | ANA All Nippon Airways | Best Airport Services, Cleanest Airline |
| 6–10 | Turkish, Korean Air, Air France, Japan Airlines, Hainan Airlines | Strong regional and service categories |
In a remarkable rise, Taiwan’s STARLUX Airlines was recognised as the World’s Most Improved Airline and received a 5-Star Airline Rating, only five years after launching operations.
Other Key Wins Across Categories:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Low-Cost Airline (Global) | AirAsia (16th consecutive year) |
| Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline | Scoot |
| Best Leisure Airline | Air Transat |
| Most Family-Friendly Airline | Lufthansa |
| Best Regional Airline (Global) | Bangkok Airways |
| Best Airline in North America | Air Canada |
| Best Independent Airport Lounge | Plaza Premium Lounge (FCO) |
| Best Business Class Onboard Catering | Turkish Airlines |
In the premium cabin categories, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Air France dominated the First Class rankings, while Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, and Emirates led in Premium Economy. Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines were the favourites in Economy Class.
The World’s Best Airline Alliance went to Star Alliance, further cementing its global reputation with its CDG Terminal 1 lounge winning Best Alliance Lounge.
This year’s results highlight the growing diversity and strength of airlines across regions—from ultra-luxury Middle Eastern carriers to nimble, customer-focused low-cost and regional airlines.
As the global aviation industry continues its post-pandemic recovery and growth, these awards underscore a key trend: passengers are no longer just seeking a flight, but a seamless, exceptional travel experience—both in the air and on the ground. And Qatar Airways, with its nine-time reign, is proving to be the gold standard yet again.
