The world’s 10 best airlines of 2023

Airline ranking company Skytrax just released its annual list of the best airlines in the world. The World Airline Awards, the list is based on data collected from an online traveller satisfaction survey.


With 2023 marking the first year of global recovery from the pandemic, the following list highlights the airlines that have demonstrated exceptional resilience, swiftly rebounding to maintain or hopefully even build on their reputations. So, who soared above the rest and made the top 10 this year?

10. Korean Air

South Korea’s flagship carrier is ranked No 10 on the list for its exceptional service and on-board amenities. Headquartered in Seoul, this leading international carrier flies to 43 countries.

KOREAN AIR AIRBUS A380-861 HL7622 (MSN 128)

Fun fact: There is a special livery on a Korean Air 777-300ER that showcases the names of every one of the airline’s employees.

9. Eva Air
Eva Air, a Taiwanese carrier, has been operating since 1989. As a member of the Star Alliance the airline boasts an extensive network, connecting more than 60 prominent business and tourist destinations across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Skytrax also credited the airline for having the world’s best premium economy class.

EVA AIR AIRBUS A330-203 B-16310 (MSN 0678)

Fun fact: Eva Air was intended to be called Evergreen Airlines, but the name was already taken.

8. Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific, the home-grown airline of Hong Kong, has established itself among the most popular airlines around. As a founding member of the One World Global Alliance, the airline operates both passenger and cargo services, connecting to over 200 destinations worldwide. Cathay Pacific also takes pride in its in-flight entertainment, which has garnered recognition from Skytrax as the world’s best.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A330-343 B-HLR (MSN 0421)

Fun fact: In a new collaboration, Cathay Pacific is serving Michelin-starred food from renowned Hong Kong restaurant Duddell’s for business and first-class passengers.

7. Air France
Launched in 1933, Air France merged with KLM in 2004 to become one of Europe’s leading airlines thanks to its service and network of flights. With 1,500 daily departures, the carrier takes passengers from Paris to destinations across Asia, Africa and the Americas.

AIR FRANCE AIRBUS A380-861 F-HPJF (MSN 064)

Fun fact: From the 1970s to 2003, Air France partnered with British Airways in running supersonic flights on Concorde.

6. Turkish Airlines
Boasting that, “We fly to more countries than any other airline in the world” – 129 in 2019 – Turkish Airlines reaches around 340 individual destinations across the globe. The Istanbul-based company was founded in 1933 and is a member of Star Alliance.

TURKISH AIRLINES BOEING 777-3F2 TC-JJH (MSN 40792)

Fun fact: Turkish Airlines seems to have an affinity for football, having sponsored many individual clubs leading Manchester United, Aston Villa, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, and is the current sponsor of the UEFA Champions League.

5. Japan Airlines
Tokyo-based Japan Airlines (JAL), founded more than 70 years ago, secures a top spot in Skytrax’s rankings. With four major hubs, across Tokyo and Osaka, and a wide range of destinations across the globe, the airline is known for its service and safety record. This year it also bagged the title of world’s best economy class.

JAPAN AIR BOEING 787-8 JA842J (MSN 34854)

Fun fact: Japan Airlines is an official sponsor of the Japanese national football team.

4. Emirates
This Dubai-based airline is renowned for its five-star service, facilities and impressive on-board entertainment. Serving 152 destinations with a fleet of 262 aircraft, it was also one of the first airlines to rebound after the pandemic, carrying 15.8 million passengers in 2020.

EMIRATES AIRBUS A38-861 A6-EON (MSN 188)

Fun fact: Emirates’ A380 business class features a bar, where guests can sit at the counter or next to the window while savoring a freshly made cocktail. Just like the movies!


3. All Nippon Airways
The second Japanese airline on this list is ANA which operates a comprehensive domestic network of 118 domestic routes as well as serving 82 international destinations, from its twin hubs of Narita and Haneda.

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS BOEING 787-9 JA885A (MSN 43870)

Fun fact: ANA touts itself as the largest airline in Japan by passenger number – bigger even than JAL – although the flag carrier claims more US destinations.

2. Qatar Airways
Based in Doha, Qatar Airways landed a spot as the second-best airline in the world this year – falling from No 1 for the first time since 2019. The airline is renowned for its exceptional in-flight services, particularly its top-ranked business class. With an extensive network of over 150 destinations, stretching as far as Australia and North America, Qatar Airways has garnered a loyal following among passengers.

QATAR AIRWAYS AIRBUS A30-861 A7-APG (MSN 193)

Fun fact: The logo of Qatar Airways is the oryx, the graceful national animal of Qatar.


1. Singapore Airlines
Going from second place last year to claim the top spot, Singapore’s national airline took first for its world-class customer service, in-flight gourmet menus and state-of-the-art entertainment system. The premium carrier, which flies to destinations across the globe, also took home the award for world’s best first class.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 737-8SA 9V-MGL (MSN 44228)

Fun fact: Singapore Airlines currently operates the longest scheduled flight in the world, three times a week between Singapore and New York. It is 9,585 miles and takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.