Skytrax 2026: Qatar Airways wins 4 titles
A lifelong aviation enthusiast, I closely follow the news of international airlines. On air-qataria.com, I focus particularly on Qatar Airways and all the airlines serving Qatar, covering new routes, fleet developments, partnerships, and news related to the Hamad International Airport hub.
Curious and meticulous, I enjoy analyzing developments in the aviation sector and sharing the latest and most reliable information on air travel to and from Qatar with you.
The 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony took place on September 18 at The Langham Hotel in London. This edition saw Singapore Airlines reclaim the “World’s Best Airline” crown, relegating Qatar Airways to second place.
However, the Qatari carrier did not leave empty-handed: at the 2025 edition, held alongside the Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways had secured the top title for the ninth time in its history, an all-time record unmatched by any other airline in the history of the Skytrax Awards.
2026 Best Airlines Ranking
Here are the confirmed top ten spots in this new ranking:
Singapore Airlines
Qatar Airways
Cathay Pacific
ANA All Nippon Airways
Turkish Airlines
Emirates
Air France
Hainan Airlines
Japan Airlines
Korean Air.
Other airlines recognized in specific categories include STARLUX Airlines (World’s Cleanest Airline), Emirates (Best In-flight Entertainment), AirAsia (Best Low-Cost Airline), Scoot (Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline), and Bangkok Airways (Best Regional Airline).
Awards won by Qatar Airways
Although the Qatari airline relinquished the top spot, it still walked away with an impressive haul of category awards, confirming the strength of its premium product.
World’s Best Business Class: Qatar Airways retained this title for the 13th time, an achievement largely driven by its Qsuite, acclaimed for its private cabins and modular four-seat configuration that allows passengers traveling together to dine or socialize.
Best Airline in the Middle East: A 14th win in this regional category, confirming the airline’s dominant position over its Gulf rivals. World’s Best Business Class Lounge, The Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden, located at Hamad International Airport, has won this award for the eighth time.
World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi: A brand-new category this year, with Qatar Airways becoming its very first winner. The airline highlights the performance of its wide-body fleet equipped with Starlink technology, noting that over 25 million passengers have used the onboard connectivity across more than 96,000 flights.
Finally, Skytrax confirmed that Qatar Airways has retained its five-star rating, a distinction that very few airlines worldwide manage to maintain over the long term.