A prestigious global airline ranking has been released, and no European airlines have achieved the highest rating.
Each year since 1999, Skytrax, an international air transport rating organisation based in London, has awarded five-star ratings to just a handful of operators.
This year, the top ten is made up of exclusively Asian and Middle Eastern airlines with no European carriers in sight.
How does an airline achieve a five-star rating?
Recognised as a top evaluation system grading airlines on quality, Skytrax’s five-star Airline Rating puts operators through rigorous tests to see if they’re entitled to the top ranking.
The body shies away from evaluating customer reviews, which, it says, “cannot provide a consistent, unified global quality rating system for the airline industry”.
Instead, it looks at each airline’s front-line quality standards across product and service, which covers both the onboard and airport environments.
That ranges from staff service to product standards, as well as the consistency of an airline’s fleet and the ground and onboard offerings.
A five-star rating doesn’t require each category to be given top marks on Skytrax’s scale, but certain criteria across the categories need to be satisfied in order to receive the ranking.
With no specific ranking among the ten best airlines, they’re instead listed alphabetically.
All Nippon Airways, Japan
This is the 13th consecutive year that the Japanese airline has been awarded a 5-star rating – the only airline from that country which has earned the honour for more than ten years in a row.
In a statement, the operator said, “The high rating was due to consistently providing high-quality services, having a deep understanding of the diverse needs of our global customers, and continuously improving our services.”
Asiana Airlines, South Korea
Asiana Airlines was given the five-star rating thanks to the quality of its airport and onboard product and staff service. Seats, amenities, food and beverages, cleanliness and service rating all helped it to achieve the score.
Skytrax specifically praised its staff, saying they “continue to stand out when internationally benchmarked”, as well as its hub at Incheon airport in Seoul, commending its “core efficiency”.
Interestingly, Asiana will be merged with Korean Air at the end of 2026.
Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong
Based out of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways was particularly praised for the quality of its airport, Hong Kong International, as well as onboard product and staff service, both in the cabin and on the ground.
Its seats, amenities, cleaning and food offerings were also lauded.
EVA Air, Taiwan
The Asian nation’s leading independent airline managed to scoop five-star certification for the 11th consecutive year.
Skytrax highlighted its outstanding performance across multiple areas, including flight safety, cabin crew professionalism, aircraft cleanliness, business class amenities, and onboard beverage quality.
Ground services, including check-in efficiency, as well as transfer operations, baggage handling, and lounge functionality, were complimented too.
Hainan Airlines, China
Skytrax commended the Chinese airline for its product and service standards throughout both economy and business class, and praised its in-flight dining offerings as well as its attentive service.
“Airport service standards are efficient, and HNA branded lounges are available at some key hubs and offer an elevated experience,” the body said.
Japan Airlines, Japan
Japan Airlines received the five-star ranking for the fifth consecutive year.
In a statement, the operator, based out of Tokyo, expressed delight at the award, putting it down to its “industry-leading approach to safety and well-being, sustainability, and our guests’ overall experience.”
Korean Air, Korea
The South Korean flag carrier was praised for its high level of quality consistency delivered to customers.
“Korean Air cabin crew are hard working and professional, and economy class standards are particularly commendable,” Skytrax said, also hailing, “an excellent onboard product across first, business and economy class, which combines with very efficient and sincere staff service”.
Qatar Airways, Qatar
Qatar Airways, the country’s flag carrier, was one of the first-ever airlines to be awarded five-star status by Skyrax – and has maintained its reputation since then.
Skytrax said it “maintains its global leadership for delivering the highest standards of product and service to customers,” and also praised its seating, amenities and excellent staff service.
Singapore Airlines, Singapore
Singapore’s flag carrier was enthusiastically praised by Skytrax, which said it delivers “superlative standards” across long-haul and regional flights, and “continues to innovate and define the air travel experience”.
Its economy class offering was judged to be of an excellent standard, alongside first and business, while its Changi hub was called “an essential part of the success of the Singapore Airlines”.
STARLUX Airlines, Taiwan
Despite only having operated for six years, STARLUX received the award thanks to its offering across all three cabin classes, as well as for its cabin crew.
Skytrax also lauded its modern fleet, made up of A321neo, A330neo, and A350-900, making the customer experience exceptionally comfortable.