Singapore Airlines tops 2026 World Airline Awards as Qatar Airways falls to second
Singapore Airlines was named Airline of the Year in the 2026 World Airline Awards, pushing Qatar Airways to second place.
At the 2026 World Airline Awards, Singapore Airlines secured the Airline of the Year title, ending Qatar Airways’ two-year streak and placing the Gulf carrier in second position. This marks Singapore’s sixth overall win, a record only surpassed by Qatar’s nine victories. The top ten list continued to be led by Asian and Middle Eastern airlines, with Cathay Pacific, All Nippon Airways and Turkish Airlines rounding out the upper tier, while Qantas climbed two places to 12th after a low point in 2024.
Qatar Airways earned the inaugural best onboard Wi-Fi award, and US carriers dominated the other new Wi-Fi category slots. The rankings are based on Skytrax’s global passenger satisfaction survey, though some experts have questioned the methodology’s transparency.
Why it matters
Airline rankings shape passenger preferences and show how carriers handle regional disruptions and competition.
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