American carriers fail to rank among world’s best airlines for 2025
Just in time for the start of this summer’s busy travel season, Skytrax has named Qatar Airways the world’s best airline at its 2025 World Airline Awards at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday.
This is the Middle Eastern carrier’s ninth win at what has been dubbed “the Oscars of the aviation industry.”
“To retain this title in a highly competitive and ever-evolving global industry reflects [our] relentless efforts across every part of the business . . . [as we] continue to set new standards in aviation . . . and is a clear validation of our vision to shape the future of air travel,” Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said in a statement.
The top spots were dominated by Middle Eastern and Asian airlines known for their exceptional service, luxury cabins, and state-of-the-art in-flight products, as airlines increasingly compete for the lucrative luxury market post-pandemic. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, and All Nippon Airways rounded out the top five placings after Qatar Airways. In all, 325 airlines were surveyed by Skytrax.
In addition to its No. 2 overall ranking this year, Singapore Airlines was recognized for having the “world’s best cabin crew” and “world’s best first class service.” Cathay Pacific Airways moved up to third place and was also honored for “world’s best in-flight entertainment.” Emirates ranked No. 4, and All Nippon Airways came in fifth place, winning for “world’s best airport service.”
Here’s a look at Skytrax’s Top 20 list.
The World Top 20 Airlines In 2025
1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. Emirates
5. All Nippon Airways
6. Turkish Airlines
7. Korean Air
8. Air France
9. Japan Airlines
10. Hainan Airlines
11. Swiss International Air Lines
12. EVA Air
13. British Airways
14. Qantas Airways
15. Lufthansa
16. Virgin Atlantic
17. Saudi Arabian Airlines
18. Starlux Airlines
19. Air Canada
20. Iberia
One glaring omission: U.S. carriers. In fact, domestic airlines like Delta, American, United, and JetBlue didn’t even crack the top 20, much less the top 10.
A look at the world’s top 100 airlines shows Delta Air Lines ranked at No. 22, trailed by United Airlines at No. 51, JetBlue at No. 52, Alaska Airlines at No. 69, Southwest Airlines at No. 76, American Airlines at No. 83, and Hawaiian Airlines at No. 100.
For North America, specifically, Air Canada won “best regional airline,” while Delta Air Lines received the award for the “best airline staff service in North America.”
The rankings come amid growing concerns about aviation safety in the United States after a number of staffing cuts at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Some critics wonder whether the cuts are causing current airport delays and possibly contributing to safety issues, in the wake of an alarming incident in April involving a 90-second outage in radar and communication systems at Newark Liberty International Airport that left controllers unable to communicate with aircraft. The episode prompted one anonymous air traffic controller to later call the airport “not safe.”
A full list of winners across all categories is on view at the Skytrax website.