Best airlines in the world, known for their service, safety, and overall passenger experience:
(1). Singapore Airlines
Renowned for exceptional service and comfort, often topping airline rankings.
Singapore Airlines (SIA or SQ) proudly serves as the national carrier of Singapore, with its main hub situated at the bustling Changi Airport. As a proud member of the Star Alliance, Singapore Airlines has carved a unique identity in the aviation world, notably featuring the iconic Singapore Girl in its branding while maintaining a consistent livery over the years.
Renowned globally for its outstanding service and quality, the airline has earned a prestigious 5-star rating and has been recognized by Skytrax as the world’s best airline five times. Singapore Airlines operates a diverse fleet that includes cutting-edge Airbus and Boeing models, such as the A350, A380, Boeing 737, Boeing 747 Freighter, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787, among others. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, Singapore Airlines continues to set the standard for excellence in air travel.
(2). Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية القطرية, al-Qaṭariyya), commonly known as Qatar Airways, is the national airline of Qatar. With its headquarters located in the iconic Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the airline operates an extensive hub-and-spoke network, serving over 170 international destinations across five continents from its main hub at Hamad International Airport.
Qatar Airways boasts a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft and employs over 43,000 dedicated staff members. Since joining the Oneworld alliance in October 2013, the airline has solidified its position as a leading global carrier. The official slogan, “Going Places Together,” has been in use since 2015, reflecting the airline’s commitment to connecting travelers around the world.
(3). Emirates
Emirates (Arabic: طَيَران الإمارات DMG: Ṭayarān Al-Imārāt) is one of the two national carriers of the United Arab Emirates, alongside Etihad Airways. Headquartered in Garhoud, Dubai, Emirates operates as a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai.As the largest airline in the Middle East, Emirates conducts over 3,600 flights each week from its hub at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. The airline serves more than 150 destinations across 80 countries on six continents, utilizing a fleet of nearly 250 aircraft. Additionally, cargo services are managed by Emirates SkyCargo, further enhancing the airline’s extensive global reach.
(4). All Nippon Airways (ANA)
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (全日本空輸株式会社, Zen Nippon Kūyu Kabushiki gaisha, ANA) is Japan’s largest airline, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. The airline offers a wide range of services to both domestic and international destinations, surpassing its main competitor, Japan Airlines.As of April 2023, ANA employs around 12,800 staff members. The airline became a member of the Star Alliance in October 1999, enhancing its global reach and connectivity for travelers.
(5). Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is Hong Kong’s flagship airline, headquartered at Hong Kong International Airport. Known for its outstanding service, the airline operates a vast network, serving over 190 destinations in more than 60 countries through various codeshare agreements and joint ventures.The fleet includes modern aircraft such as the Airbus A321neo, A330, A350, and Boeing 777, while its cargo division, Cathay Cargo, operates Boeing 747 models. Previously, Cathay Dragon served 44 Asia-Pacific destinations until its operations ceased in 2020.
Founded on September 24, 1946, by Sydney H. de Kantzow and Roy C. Farrell, Cathay Pacific celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016. As of March 2024, major shareholders include Swire Pacific (45%), Air China (30%), and Qatar Airways (9.9%).A founding member of the Oneworld alliance, Cathay Pacific has earned a 5-star rating and has been recognized as the world’s best airline four times by Skytrax, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in air travel.
(6). Japan Airlines (JAL)
Japan Airlines (JAL) serves as the flag carrier of Japan, with its headquarters located in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The airline operates main hubs at Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports, as well as Kansai and Itami airports in Osaka. The JAL group includes not only Japan Airlines but also J-Air, Japan Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, Hokkaido Air System, and Ryukyu Air Commuter for domestic services, alongside JAL Cargo for freight and mail.
JAL offers scheduled and non-scheduled international and domestic passenger and cargo services to 220 destinations across 35 countries, including various codeshare partnerships. The group maintains a fleet of 279 aircraft. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, JAL carried over 52 million passengers and more than 1.1 million tons of cargo and mail.
Established in 1951 and nationalized in 1953, JAL became fully privatized in 1987. It merged with Japan Air System in 2002, becoming the sixth-largest airline globally by passenger numbers. JAL also supports local sports, sponsoring teams like Shimizu S-Pulse and Consadole Sapporo.
(7). Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited, commonly known as Qantas (/ˈkwɒntəs/ KWON-təs), is Australia’s flag carrier and the largest airline in the country by fleet size, international flights, and destinations. A founding member of the Oneworld alliance, Qantas is unique in operating flights to all seven continents, including Africa and Antarctica, from its hubs in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane. It also serves over 60 domestic destinations across Australia.
Founded in November 1920, Qantas is the third-oldest airline in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking realm. The name Qantas is an acronym for its original title, Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, reflecting its initial operations in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The airline is affectionately known as “The Flying Kangaroo” and uses the slogan “Spirit of Australia.”
Headquartered in Mascot, a suburb of Sydney, Qantas Group held a 60.8% share of the Australian domestic market as of March 2023. Its subsidiaries operate regional and trunk routes within Australia, as well as some short-haul international flights under the QantasLink brand. Qantas also owns Jetstar, a low-cost airline serving international and domestic routes, and has stakes in other Jetstar-branded airlines across Asia, along with Alliance Airlines and Fiji Airways.
(8). Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG, commonly known as Lufthansa, is Germany’s flag carrier. When including its subsidiaries, it ranks as the second-largest airline in Europe by passenger volume and is the largest in Europe and the fourth largest globally by revenue. A founding member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, Lufthansa was established in 1953 and began operations in April 1955.
In addition to its own flights, the Lufthansa Group owns several other airlines, including Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, and Swiss International Air Lines. The group also operates various aviation-related companies such as Lufthansa Consulting and Lufthansa Technik.
Founded as Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf (Luftag) on January 6, 1953, by former employees of Deutsche Luft Hansa, Lufthansa adopted the name and logo of its predecessor in 1954. The corporate headquarters is in Cologne, with the primary operations base at Frankfurt Airport and a secondary hub in Munich.
(9). Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines (Turkish: Türk Hava Yolları) is the flag carrier of Turkey. As of June 2024, it operates scheduled services to 349 destinations worldwide, including cargo routes, across Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. The airline boasts the most non-stop destinations served from a single airport globally and flies to 130 countries, surpassing all other airlines. Its cargo division, Turkish Cargo, operates a fleet of 24 cargo aircraft and serves 82 destinations. Additionally, Turkish Airlines has a low-cost subsidiary, AJet.
The corporate headquarters are located at Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul, while its main hub is Istanbul Airport in Arnavutköy. Turkish Airlines has been a proud member of the Star Alliance network since April 1.
(10). Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is a major U.S. airline headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, making it the oldest continuously operating airline in the country and the seventh oldest in the world. Delta, along with its regional subsidiaries operating under the Delta Connection brand, runs over 5,400 flights daily to 325 destinations across 52 countries on six continents. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance and employed around 100,000 staff as of the end of 2023.
The airline operates nine hubs, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport serving as the largest, based on total passengers and departures. Delta ranks as the second largest airline globally by passenger numbers, passenger miles flown, and fleet size. Additionally, it holds the top spot in revenue among commercially owned airlines and ranks first in brand value, coming in at 113th on the Fortune 500 list.
These airlines consistently receive high marks in passenger reviews and industry awards for their performance and customer satisfaction.