These Are the World’s Best Airlines

This year’s Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, which ranked some 350 airlines based on votes from passengers across more than 100 countries, saw Qatar Airways take the top spot for world’s best airline—dethroning last year’s winner, Singapore Airlines.

Qatar Airways also won top marks for Best Business Class, Best Business Class Lounge, and Best Airline in the Middle East. Earlier this year, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha won the agency’s award for World’s Best Airport (also dethroning Singapore’s Changi Airport for a double upset).

Nabbing the second-place spot for world’s best airlines was Singapore Airlines, which also won for Best Cabin Staff, Best First Class, and Best Airline in Asia.

There were no U.S. carriers among the top 20 world’s best airlines, but Delta Air Lines was the highest-ranking U.S. carrier on the world’s best airlines list, at No. 21. Delta was also voted the Best Airline in North America, Best Cabin Crew in North America, and Best Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Class in North America.

Also worth noting is that Cathay Pacific won for World’s Best Economy Class, and Japan Airlines took the top prize for World’s Best Premium Economy. British Airways was named the most family-friendly airline due to its family check-in facilities, priority boarding, kids’ meals, entertainment, and on-board amenities (such as toys and activity packs). British Airways also offers special infant seats with five-point harness for babies up to 27.5 lbs, which accommodates most babies up to the 24-month mark, so parents can travel relatively comfortably without having to purchase an extra seat (other airlines typically offer bassinets with much lower weigh limits).

Additionally, Turkish Airlines was voted the Best Airline in Europe and won Best Business Class Catering, and Ethiopian Airlines won for Best Airline in Africa. As for which are the best meals in first class, it’s clearly Air France, which won World’s Best First Class Catering as well as Best First Class Lounge Dining (at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport), plus the Best Airline in Western Europe.

Star Alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance and received the Best Airline Alliance Lounge award for its new lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Since 1999, Skytrax, which ranks international airlines and airports, has released its annual World Airline Awards, which have come to be known as a sort of “Oscars of the airline industry.” According to Skytrax, the rankings are independent and impartial, based on millions of votes cast by global airline passengers.

“All costs of the survey and awards event are paid by Skytrax, and airlines do not pay any entry or registration fee,” the airline ranking site said in its release.

For the 2024 World Airline Awards, an online customer survey was conducted from September 2023 to May 2024. The 2024 results for the world’s best airlines are as follows:

The world’s 20 best airlines in 2024

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Japan Airlines
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Air France
10. Swiss International Air Lines
11. Korean Air
12. Hainan Airlines
13. British Airways
14. Fiji Airways
15. Iberia
16. Vistara
17. Virgin Atlantic
18. Lufthansa
19. Etihad Airways
20. Saudi Arabian Airlines

This story was originally published in June 2023 and was updated on June 24, 2024, to include current information.