Source: Skytrax

  • Delta Air Lines and LATAM chosen as Best Airline in North and South America, respectively

Most of 2020 and 2021 has been a catastrophic period for the world airline industry, as passenger demand plummeted and countries across the world were affected by lockdowns and severe travel restrictions. The Skytrax customer survey operated for 23 months (September 2019 to July 2021), with the 2021 Awards representing a mix of more normal travel times combined with some travel during the global pandemic.  Evaluating the Top 20 airlines, there have been some up and down movements versus 2019 results, although a core of airlines still dominate these higher positions.

Heading up the winners is Qatar Airways, named as Airline of the Year 2021, with Singapore Airlines ranked 2nd, and ANA All Nippon Airways in 3rd place, out of more than 350 airlines included in the survey results.

Qatar Airways also receives the awards for the World’s Best Business Class, the World’s Best Business Class Seat and the Best Airline in the Middle East.

Singapore Airlines, ranked No 2 worldwide, wins the top accolade for the World’s Best Cabin Crew, and is also honoured with awards for the World’s Best First Class, the Best Airline in Asia and the World’s Best First Class Seat.

ANA All Nippon Airways maintains its No 3 global ranking, and repeats its earlier success by winning the World’s Best Airport Services award. Winning the 2021 award as the World’s Cleanest Airline is a particularly high profile success during the global pandemic.

The World Airline Awards began in 1999, when Skytrax launched its first global, annual airline customer satisfaction survey. They are referred to as the Oscars of the aviation industry.

The awards survey process is not restricted to member airlines or a pre-selected choice of airline, and any airline in the world can be nominated. There are no survey entry fees, no payment to attend the awards event, and no charges for any use of the award logos and results by winning airlines. The customer surveys are provided in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Japanese.

Some of the Category winners are shown below, and to view the full 2021 World Airline Awards results, use the A-Z Award Winners page.

The World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2021

  1. Qatar Airways
  2. Singapore Airlines
  3. ANA All Nippon Airways
  4. Emirates
  5. Japan Airlines
  6. Cathay Pacific Airways
  7. EVA Air
  8. Qantas Airways
  9. Hainan Airlines
  10. Air France

» The Top 100 Airlines in 2021

The World’s Best Cabin Staff 2021

  1. Singapore Airlines
  2. ANA All Nippon Airways
  3. Thai Airways
  4. Garuda Indonesia
  5. Japan Airlines
  6. Hainan Airlines
  7. EVA Air
  8. Asiana Airlines
  9. Cathay Pacific Airways
  10. Qatar Airways

The World’s Cleanest Airline Cabins 2021

  1. ANA All Nippon Airways
  2. Singapore Airlines
  3. Japan Airlines
  4. Qatar Airways
  5. EVA Air
  6. Cathay Pacific Airways
  7. Asiana Airlines
  8. Korean Air
  9. Hainan Airlines
  10. Swiss International Air Lines

The World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2021

  1. AirAsia
  2. Southwest Airlines
  3. Scoot
  4. Vueling Airlines
  5. IndiGo
  6. EasyJet
  7. Jetstar Airways
  8. Ryanair
  9. Jetstar Asia
  10. Flynas

The World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airlines 2021

  1. Scoot
  2. Jetstar Airways
  3. Air Canada rouge
  4. LEVEL
  5. French Bee

The World’s Most Improved Airlines 2021

  1. Saudi Arabian Airlines
  2. RwandAir
  3. JetSmart
  4. Vistara
  5. Vueling Airlines
  6. Scoot
  7. Xiamen Airlines
  8. Flynas
  9. Air France
  10. Turkish Airlines

The Best Airline Inflight Entertainment 2021

  1. Emirates
  2. Singapore Airlines
  3. Qatar Airways
  4. Delta Air Lines
  5. Virgin Atlantic
  6. Qantas Airways
  7. Turkish Airlines
  8. United Airlines
  9. Etihad Airways
  10. Air France

View the Best Airlines by region

» Best Airlines in Africa
» Best Airlines in Asia
» Best Airlines in Australia/Pacific
» Best Airlines in Europe
» Best Airlines in the Middle East
» Best Airlines in North America
» Best Airlines in South America
» Best Airlines in Central Asia
» Best Airlines in India / Southern Asia

The Best Airlines by Cabin

» Best First Class Airlines
» Best Business Class Airlines
» Best Premium Economy Class Airlines
» Best Economy Class Airlines