Virgin Australia wins world’s best cabin crew for eighth year running

Virgin Australia has once again been crowned World’s Best Cabin Crew in the AirlineRatings.com World’s Best Airlines Awards for 2026, marking its eighth consecutive win. The airline also secured third place globally in the World’s Best Hybrid Airlines category.

Virgin Australia Group CEO Dave Emerson said, “Winning World’s Best Cabin Crew for the eighth year in a row is something we’re incredibly proud of, because it’s all about our people,” 

He went on to say, “We always encourage our crew to bring their own unique flair to work, which makes a real difference to the guest experience and is truly what I believe makes our team the best in the world.” 

Emerson noted that the dual recognition highlights the airline’s overall performance. “Earning a spot among the top three hybrid airlines worldwide, along with the acknowledgment for our crew, truly shows that we’re providing excellent service, great value, and a consistently outstanding experience across our entire network.”

The airline also highlighted the achievements of its partner carriers at the 2026 awards. Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia’s long-haul international partner, won World’s Best Full-Service Airline and placed second in the World’s Best Business Class category for its Qsuite product.

Virgin Australia posted the below message on LinkedIn

We’re proud to share that Virgin Australia has been awarded World’s Best Cabin Crew for the eighth consecutive year in the AirlineRatings.com World’s Best Airlines Awards for 2026. This recognition means so much because it celebrates what matters most to us, creating wonderful experiences for our guests, every time they fly. We’re also thrilled to have been ranked in the top three globally in the World’s Best Hybrid Airlines, recognising our efforts to deliver a consistently wonderful flying experience that balances service, value, and flexibility every day.