【Airline Rankings】Cathay Pacific Rises to Second Place in 2026 AirlineRatings Global Best Airlines Rankings, Hong Kong Express Wins Budget Airline Championship for First Time

AirlineRatings, the airline review website, announced the “World’s Best Airlines for 2026” rankings on Wednesday (18th). Qatar Airways became the champion this year, while Cathay Pacific (00293) rose from fourth place last year to second. Singapore Airlines ranked third. Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong Express also won the low-cost airline category for the first time.

In the global full-service airline category, besides Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and Taiwan’s STARLUX Airlines ranked fourth and fifth respectively. Following them were Japan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Air New Zealand, and Etihad Airways.

Hong Kong Express highlights onboard dining

In the global low-cost airline category, Hong Kong Express won for the first time. AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen said:

“Although Hong Kong Express does not offer Wi-Fi or in-flight entertainment systems, its cabin crew service is consistently excellent, and its onboard dining was rated as the best among low-cost airlines worldwide. The menu features authentic Hong Kong street snacks and international classic dishes, making the dining experience a major highlight of the journey.”

Cathay Pacific ranks second in the full-service category

Hong Kong’s airline industry performed notably in this year’s rankings. Besides placing second in the full-service category, Cathay Cargo was named the world’s best brand for cargo operations. Hong Kong Express also won the low-cost category and has been recognized as the safest low-cost airline for two consecutive years as of January this year.

Sharon Petersen stated that this year’s competition was exceptionally fierce. However, Qatar Airways maintained its top position thanks to its excellent value, high-quality economy class products, and award-winning business class. She also highlighted STARLUX Airlines’ outstanding performance this year, noting, “STARLUX has quickly risen as a premium airline with excellent cabin service, high-quality dining, and modern cabin design, especially with its upcoming European routes.”

AirlineRatings’ “World’s Best Airlines” ranking emphasizes comfort

Other categories include:

• Best hybrid airline led by Lufthansa;
• Best regional airline awarded to Porter Airlines in Canada;
• Best long-haul low-cost airline to Jetstar Airways;
• Best airport for the second consecutive year to Changi Airport in Singapore.

The “World’s Best Airlines” ranking focuses on comfort, emphasizing onboard products and passenger experience, including dining, entertainment systems, seat comfort, service quality, and overall value. Safety records are not included, as safety rankings were published separately in January.

Complete rankings and detailed explanations are available on AirlineRatings.com.

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