The 2025 World Airline Awards recently took place at the Paris Air Show, and Hong Kong’s air carriers have done us proud. Out of more than 325 global airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways has been ranked third in the world’s top airlines of 2025.
This year, our city’s flag carrier has risen up the ranks from fifth spot in 2024 – and was also crowned first place for the World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment and the World’s Best Economy Class. Additionally, Cathay also won third place for the World’s Best Cabin Crew, the World’s Best Business Class, and the World’s Cleanest Airlines. Basically, we have an amazing economy class and entertainment for the everyman, as well as a top-notch business class, all tended by friendly and attentive crew members, within some of the world’s cleanest planes. Sounds like a great deal.
Apart from Cathay, some of our other flight carriers also did well at the awards. Hong Kong Airlines ranks at number eight for the World’s Best Regional Airlines, while HK Express ranks at number three on the list of the World’s Most Improved Airlines.
On the World’s Top 20 Airlines in 2025 list, Qatar Airways was crowned number one, followed by Singapore Airlines, a carrier which had previously won the top slot five times – these two airlines have been consistently jostling for number one and two on this list since 2017. Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and ANA All Nippon Airways round off the top five airlines of this year.
Widely regarded as the ‘Oscars of the aviation industry’, the World Airline Awards is an independent and impartial ranking organised by airline and travel research consultancy Skytrax, and has been running since 1999. View the full rankings and categories on the official website.
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