These are the best airlines of 2026 – and five Asian carriers made the top 10

AirlineRatings has just released its World’s Best Airlines for 2026, and Asia has every reason to feel smug at cruising altitude. In the full-service category, five Asian airlines made the global top 10: Cathay Pacific ranked second, Singapore Airlines third, Korean Air fourth, Taipei-based STARLUX Airlines fifth, and Japan Airlines sixth. Only Qatar Airways managed to edge the region out of the top spot.

That makes this year’s list a strong one for Asia, not just in numbers, but in momentum. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines both climbed from last year’s positions, while STARLUX is one of the standout movers in the 2026 ranking, jumping sharply from No. 18 last year to No. 5. AirlineRatings highlighted its polished cabin service, strong catering and sleek interiors, with the Taipei carrier also preparing to expand into Europe later this year.

The ranking has been published annually by AirlineRatings since 2014 and is judged on passenger-facing criteria such as comfort, choice, product consistency and value across an airline’s network, rather than public voting or paid entries.

Asia also turned in a strong performance among low-cost carriers. HK Express topped the global low-cost ranking, while Jetstar placed second, AirAsia came third, and Scoot ranked fifth. Vietjet Air, meanwhile, was ranked tenth and separately named World’s Best Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier for 2026. We think it’s well-deserved, especially with the airline's continued expansion in the region with newly announced routes such as Da Nang - Jakarta and Nha Trang - Singapore.

Here’s the top 10 full-service list for 2026:

1. Qatar Airways
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Korean Air
5. STARLUX Airlines
6. Japan Airlines
7. Turkish Airlines
8. Emirates
9. Air New Zealand
10. Etihad Airways

See the full list for the World’s Best Airlines for 2026 on Airline Ratings.

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