Skytrax's Top 10 Best Airlines in the World for 2026

The international organization Skytrax has updated its list of the world’s five-star airlines for 2026 — and not a single European carrier made the cut. Find out which ten airlines from Asia and the Middle East earned the highest status and what criteria were used to evaluate them

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Skytrax, an international organization that evaluates airlines annually based on service quality, has published the latest list of the world’s five-star airlines for 2026. The results speak for themselves: not a single European carrier made the top ten. All spots in the ranking were taken by airlines from Asia and the Middle East. This was reported by Euronews.

Read also: Charter flights or scheduled flights: what’s the difference, and which tickets are better to choose?

The top 10 five-star airlines in the world in 2026

Skytrax lists the airlines in alphabetical order without ranking them. The list includes:

● All Nippon Airways — Japan

● Asiana Airlines — South Korea

● Cathay Pacific Airways — Hong Kong

● EVA Air — Taiwan

● Hainan Airlines — China

● Japan Airlines — Japan

● Korean Air — South Korea

● Qatar Airways — Qatar

● Singapore Airlines — Singapore

● Starlux Airlines — Taiwan

Japan is represented by two airlines — All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines; South Korea also has two — Asiana Airlines and Korean Air; and Taiwan is represented by EVA Air and the up-and-coming Starlux Airlines.

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How Skytrax evaluates airlines: its own inspections, not passenger reviews

It is important to understand the rating methodology: Skytrax does not rely on publicly available passenger reviews. The organization conducts its own independent inspections of service standards directly on board and at airports.

The evaluation analyzes: staff performance, seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food and beverage quality, as well as the overall level of service in all classes. That is why a five-star rating from Skytrax is considered one of the most authoritative in the industry.

Ranking record-holders: 13 years without a break and a six-year newcomer

All Nippon Airways of Japan has held the top spot in the ranking the longest—the airline has received five-star status for 13 consecutive years. EVA Air of Taiwan has maintained its five-star status for 11 years without a break.

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines deserves special attention — it is the youngest airline on the list, having been in operation for only six years. Despite its short history, it has earned five-star status thanks to its modern fleet and high level of service across all classes. This is an exceptional achievement for a young carrier.

Why didn’t any European airline make the ranking?

Euronews notes the absence of any European carrier in the top 10. This does not mean that European airlines are bad—there are high-quality players among them. However, by Skytrax standards, they have not yet reached the level of their Asian and Middle Eastern competitors, who systematically invest in service, staff, and onboard comfort.

If you’re planning connecting flights or trips and want to conveniently organize your itinerary in one place—on the Visit Ukraine platform, you can book tickets for various modes of transport, from air to rail routes.

We remind you! Wizz Air has announced the expansion of its presence at Chisinau Airport—one of the most popular hubs for Ukrainian travelers. Read about which ten routes to Europe will see more flights starting September 18, 2026.

Photo: onlyyouqj / Freepik

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