These are the world’s best airlines according to flyers

Each year, all kinds of rankings are released, from the world’s safest airlines to the most on-time carriers, most of which rely on the word of experts.

But now, a new ranking has been released – and it’s based entirely on traveller votes.

The Flyers’ Choice Awards 2026 from AirlineRatings.com recognises the best airlines across categories such as favourite low-cost carrier, best livery, best cabin crew uniform, preferred business class and preferred economy class.

This year, there’s a clear winner, and we don’t think it will surprise anyone: Singapore Airlines.

The carrier won four categories: preferred economy airline, best cabin crew service, best airline in central and south east Asia, and the airline that gave the greatest peace of mind.

“We are incredibly fortunate to live in a world where travellers have so many airlines delivering safe, reliable and reassuring experiences,” AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said.

“The continued strength of brands like Singapore Airlines and Qantas in the Peace of Mind category is a real credit to the trust they have built with passengers over many years.

“Confidence in an airline is earned over time, and these results demonstrate the value of that consistency.”

How European airlines performed at the Flyers’ Choice Awards

Not very well, in all honesty.

easyJet was named the joint-third low-cost carrier globally alongside Jetstar, with Vietjet Air taking the top spot and with AirAsia in second place.

The airline that gave the greatest peace of mind category was the only one to be expanded beyond the top three, and one European airline made it into sixth place – airBaltic. The top three went to Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Etihad Airways.

Categories where European airlines failed to break the top places include airline with the best livery, preferred business class, preferred premium economy, preferred economy, best cabin crew uniform, and best cabin crew.

The preferred airlines in Europe were British Airways, Lufthansa and KLM.

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