Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s best airline for 2026, giving the carrier another top award that will interest travelers from Sri Lanka and across Asia.
The airline won the title at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards in London on September 18.
This is the sixth time Singapore Airlines has won the world’s best airline award. Its previous win came in 2023.
Qatar Airways, which held the top position last year, ranked second this year. Cathay Pacific Airways placed third, followed by All Nippon Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Singapore Airlines wins four major awards
Singapore Airlines also won the awards for the world’s best economy class and the world’s best economy class onboard catering.
It was also named the best airline in Asia.
The airline ranked second in the world’s best cabin crew category.
Singapore Airlines Group CEO Goh Choon Phong said the award reflected the work of the airline’s employees.
“We are grateful to our customers for their trust and support,” he said.
He added that the airline would continue to focus on the travel experience for its customers.
The awards were based on a survey of more than 24.8 million travellers worldwide.
The survey covered more than 300 airlines. Travellers rated airlines between September 2025 and August 2026.
Skytrax has held the awards since 1999. The organisation describes them as the “Oscars of the aviation industry.”
Scoot also takes a top award
Singapore Airlines Group’s low-cost airline Scoot was named the world’s best long-haul low-cost airline for the sixth year in a row.
Scoot also ranked second among the world’s best low-cost airlines.
Malaysia’s AirAsia took the top position in that category, while Spain’s Vueling Airlines ranked third.
Scoot CEO Leslie Thng said the award recognised the airline’s focus on customer service and reliable operations.
Record passengers but higher costs
The awards come as Singapore Airlines Group continues to handle record passenger numbers.
Singapore Airlines and Scoot carried a combined 42.4 million passengers during the 2025-2026 financial year.
That was 7.7% higher than the 39.4 million passengers carried in the previous financial year.
However, the group also faces higher operating costs.
Singapore Airlines reported a net loss of S$76 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Net fuel costs rose 78.5% during the period. The group also faced a larger share of losses from Air India.
The airline said turmoil in the Middle East contributed to the increase in fuel costs.
Supply chain problems have also affected the group’s plans.
Singapore Airlines has delayed the rollout of new first and business class seats on its Airbus A350 aircraft. The rollout is now expected in the first quarter of 2027, later than the earlier target of the second quarter of 2026.
For travellers from Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia, the latest Skytrax result puts Singapore Airlines at the top of this year’s global airline rankings.
For the airline itself, the award comes alongside a different challenge: maintaining its service standards while managing higher costs and pressure on its financial performance.
Last modified: September 19, 2026
