For one Middle Eastern airline, this year has been filled with historic firsts.
Qatar Airways is commemorating yet another significant accomplishment, only weeks after announcing the largest widebody aircraft purchase in Boeing’s history.
At the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, the Qatar flag carrier was declared the winner of this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards.
In the 26-year history of the awards, which are referred to as the Oscars of the aviation industry, Qatar Airways has won the prize nine times.
Setting standards
The CEO of Qatar Airways Group, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, stated, “This recognition is much more than an award; it is a celebration of the passion, accuracy, and purpose that define who we are as an airline.”
“The unwavering efforts in every aspect of the business, from the frontline to the backstage, are reflected in our ability to maintain this title in a fiercely competitive and constantly changing global industry. The passion and dedication of our people continue to set new standards in aviation.”
Qatar was also named Best Airline in the Middle East, World’s Best Business Class, and Best Business Class Airline Lounge.
The awards come after the airline, created in 1993, announced that it was ordering up to 210 widebody jets, including 130 Dreamliners, and 30 777-9s from Boeing in a landmark purchase last month.
Al-Meer continued, “These honors reinforce our goal to not only lead, but to reinvent what great service in aviation entails.”
“We want to provide a smooth, luxurious travel experience that anticipates our passengers’ requirements and embodies the greatest levels of quality, comfort, and innovation, whether we are flying or on the ground.”
Elevated journey
Five-time World’s Best Airline winner Singapore Airlines finished second this year and was also named the World’s Best Cabin Crew, World’s Best First Class, and the Best Airline in Asia.
Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways came in fifth, followed by Dubai’s Emirates airline in fourth and Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific in third.
Turkish Airlines came in sixth, followed by South Korea’s Korean Air in seventh and France’s Air France in eighth.
Lastly, China’s Hainan Airlines completed the top 10 with Japan Airlines in ninth place.
“We were thrilled to see fresh faces and airlines represented here today, and we welcomed back a lot of past winners,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax.
“The fact that so many previously successful airlines have received awards again shows that consumers definitely value quality consistency when choosing these carriers.”
More than 325 airlines were featured this year in the “wholly independent and unbiased” awards, which were first presented in 1999 and were based on votes from surveys of almost 22.3 million customers.
Presidents, CEOs, and airline employees were among the approximately 500 attendees of the gala event held at the reconstructed Art Deco terminal of the historic Le Bourget Airport, which is located at the center of the Paris Air Show.
Quality consistency
Having won the title of World’s Best Low-Cost Airline year after year since 2010, AirAsia was also one of the winners.
The CEO and co-founder of the airline, Tony Fernandes, remarked, “It is absolutely amazing to have won the World’s Best Low Cost Airline Award for 16 consecutive years.”
“This journey has been made possible by the steadfast support of our passengers and the tireless dedication of our wonderful Allstars. We went from flying just 200,000 people in our first year to striving to greet our one billionth guest this year.”
Bangkok Airways of Thailand won the title of World’s Best Regional Airline for the eighth consecutive year, while Virgin Atlantic emerged victorious as the 2025 World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines.
Budget airline IndiGo won awards for Best Low-Cost Airline in the area and Best Airline in India/South Asia.
Additionally, Air Canada’s Toronto Pearson Signature Suite won the Best Business Class Lounge Dining award in addition to being named the Best Airline in North America.
In the meantime, Turkish Airlines was voted the Best Airline in Europe, the World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering, and the Best Airline in Southern Europe. Ethiopian Airlines was crowned the Best Airline in Africa for the eighth consecutive year.
The Middle East’s Best Airline Staff Service award went to Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, which was originally known as Saudi Arabian Airlines.
The director general of Saudia Group, Ibrahim Al-Omar, stated, “This award demonstrates the dedication of our great frontline team and the trust of our visitors.”
With audacious investments and a clear ambition to become one of the top airlines in the world, we are continuing our journey even as we celebrate this milestone.
The World Top 20 Airlines In 2025
1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Cathay Pacific
4. Emirates
5. ANA All Nippon Airways
6. Turkish Airlines
7. Korean Air
8. Air France
9. Japan Airlines
10. Hainan Airlines
11. Swiss Int’l 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
The World’s Best Cabin Crew 2025
1. Singapore Airlines
2. ANA All Nippon Airways
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. Garuda Indonesia
5. EVA Air
6. Hainan Airlines
7. Japan Airlines
8. Malaysia Airlines
9. Starlux Airlines
10. Korean Air
World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2025
1. AirAsia
2. Scoot
3. Indigo
4. Eurowings
5. Vueling Airlines
6. Volotea
7. Transavia
8. Iberia Express
9. Flynas
10. easyJet
The World’s Best Regional Airlines 2025
1. Bangkok Airways
2. Virgin Australia
3. Porter Airlines
4. Aegean Airlines
5. Azerbaijan Airlines
6. jetBlue Airways
7. Alaska Airlines
8. Hong Kong Airlines
9. RwandAir
10. Royal Air Maroc
The World’s Cleanest Airlines 2025
1. EVA Air
2. ANA All Nippon Airways
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. Qatar Airways
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Hainan Airlines
7. Starlux Airlines
8. Japan Airlines
9. Korean Air
10. China Southern
