Image sources: Wikipedia
AirlineRatings.com has announced its highly anticipated World’s Best Airlines Awards for 2025, recognizing top airlines based on passenger experience, expert reviews, safety ratings, and financial stability.
Korean Air has been named Airline of the Year 2025, standing out for its exceptional focus on passenger comfort, particularly in Economy Class, where it maintains a generous 33–34 inches of seat pitch on wide-body aircraft—offering more space than many of its competitors.
Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings.com, emphasized the significance of Economy Class in this year’s rankings, stating:
“While many airlines have reduced seat pitch to 31–32 inches, Korean Air has maintained a more spacious layout, enhancing passenger comfort.”
Beyond seating, Korean Air was also praised for its high-quality in-flight meals, extra amenities like socks and eye masks, and attentive cabin crew.
Following Korean Air, Qatar Airways secured second place, with Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines rounding out the top five.
Top 25 Full-Service Airlines for 2025
Full-service airlines offer a premium travel experience, including in-flight meals, entertainment, and superior seating options. These rankings are based on safety, service quality, passenger comfort, and overall consistency.
1. Korean Air
2. Qatar Airways
3. Air New Zealand
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Emirates
7. Japan Airlines
8. Qantas
9. Etihad
10. Turkish Airlines
11. EVA Air
12. Fiji Airways
13. Virgin Atlantic
14. ANA (All Nippon Airways)
15. Aero Mexico
16. Air Caraibes
17. Thai Airways
18. STARLUX Airlines
19. Vietnam Airlines
20. SriLankan Airlines
21. Air France
22. KLM (trialing a hybrid model on select routes)
23. Air Calin
24. Air Mauritius
25. Garuda Indonesia
Top 20 Hybrid Airlines for 2025
Hybrid airlines combine affordable fares with select premium services, such as extra legroom, complimentary refreshments, and in-flight entertainment. This year, AirlineRatings.com introduced this new category to recognize their growing influence in the industry.
Image source: Wikipedia – JetBlue Interiors
1. JetBlue
2. WestJet
3. Virgin Australia
4. Delta Airlines
5. United Airlines
6. American Airlines
7. Lufthansa
8. Air Canada
9. LOT Polish Airlines (transitioning to full-service)
10. TAP Portugal
11. Alaska Airlines
12. SWISS
13. Avianca
14. Iberia
15. British Airways
16. Finnair
17. Austrian Airlines
18. Hawaiian Airlines
19. ITA Airways
20. SAS
Top 20 Low-Cost Airlines for 2025
Image source: Wikipedia
Low-cost airlines prioritize affordability while maintaining reliability. Many provide optional add-ons for passengers seeking extra comfort.
1. AirAsia
2. Jetstar
3. AirBaltic
4. HK Express
5. easyJet
6. FlyDubai
7. Ryanair
8. Scoot
9. Breeze Airways
10. Southwest Airlines
11. SKY Airline
12. FlyNas
13. TUI Airways
14. Norwegian
15. IndiGo
16. Air Arabia
17. Volaris
18. Jet2
19. Wizz Air
20. Vueling
Other Awards and Recognitions
Alongside the airline rankings, special awards were given to recognize excellence in service, airport experience, and cabin offerings.
1. Best Regional Airline: Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) and Runner-up: Aegean Airlines
2. Best Ultra Low-Cost Carrier: VietJet Air and Runner-up: Cebu Pacific
3. Best Airport: Singapore Changi Airport
4. Best Airline Lounges: Qantas
5. Best Cabin Crew: Virgin Australia
Best Cabin Class Awards
These awards recognize airlines offering the best passenger experience across different cabin categories, evaluating comfort, amenities, and service.
Image source: Wikipedia – Singapore Airlines Suite Cabin
1. Best First Class: Singapore Airlines
2. Best Business Class: Qatar Airways
3. Best Premium Economy Class: Air New Zealand
4. Best Economy Class: Korean Air
Stay tuned to Aviation Today for more such updates.
