The ranking of the best and worst-rated airlines in 2025

Flying has become part of our daily lives. Whether for work or vacation, airlines connect us to the world. However, not all carriers deliver the same level of comfort, punctuality, or service, and passengers notice the difference.

Over the years, airlines have built reputations, some enviable, others not so much, that can make the choice of who you fly with the difference between a pleasant trip and one you’d rather forget.

As in every year, the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards took place. These awards, first established in 1999, rank the best airlines in the world based on multiple factors such as service quality, operational efficiency, and passenger satisfaction.

In this article, we’ll review which airlines stood out the most, both positively and negatively, so you’ll have a reference point for choosing wisely on your next trips.

Top 5 best airlines in the world

When it comes to excellence in the skies, a few airlines rise above the rest. Whether it’s seat comfort, onboard service quality, or punctuality, these carriers have earned the trust of millions of passengers worldwide. According to the latest Skytrax evaluations, here are the Top 5 best airlines of 2025, recognized at the World Airline Awards.

• Qatar Airways
  Taking the number one spot is Qatar Airways, the national airline of Qatar. With a fleet of over 200 aircraft, it connects travelers to more than 150 destinations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, Australia and Oceania. What’s the secret to its success? Passengers highlight its comfortable cabins, high-level cuisine, state-of-the-art entertainment system, and award-winning customer service year after year.
• Singapore Airlines
  Coming in second is Singapore Airlines, world-renowned for its dedication to customer care and excellence in service. Passengers enjoy menus created by internationally acclaimed chefs, turning every flight into a culinary experience. Add to that a cutting-edge entertainment system offering movies, music, and games for every taste, and it’s easy to see why it ranks so high.
• Cathay Pacific Airways
  Based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific serves over 200 destinations worldwide, transporting both passengers and cargo. Travelers especially praise the comfort of its flights and the quality of its onboard service, particularly in economy class, which helped secure its third-place position.
• Emirates
  Headquartered in Dubai, Emirates has become a bridge between continents with a modern fleet of 262 aircraft. One of its greatest strengths is its multicultural crew, made up of professionals from around the world, earning it numerous awards and recognitions.
• ANA All Nippon Airways
  Rounding out the top five is ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest airline and one of Asia’s most influential. Founded in 1952 with just two helicopters, it now operates a vast network of 82 international and 118 domestic routes. With excellent customer service, high cleanliness standards, and a strong reputation for reliability, ANA guarantees a pleasant and safe journey.

You’ve probably already heard of some of these names, their reputations speak for themselves. But you might be wondering: what about low-cost airlines? For many passengers, the priority is reaching their destination comfortably, safely, and without overspending. Is that possible? Yes, and a few low-cost carriers have proven it, offering efficient service and solid amenities at prices that fit most budgets.

According to Skytrax, here are the best low-cost airlines of 2025, awarded at the World Airline Awards:

• AirAsia
   Recognized for the 16th year in a row as the world’s best low-cost airline for its affordable fares and high operational efficiency.
• Scoot
  Taking second place, it’s awarded as the best low-cost long-haul airline thanks to the quality of its onboard product and attentive staff service.
• IndiGo
  India’s top low-cost carrier, praised for punctuality, good travel experiences, and competitive pricing.
• Eurowings
  Named Europe’s best low-cost airline for its flexibility, customer options, and user-friendly booking process.
• Vueling Airlines
  Spain’s own Vueling earns a spot in the rankings for its broad route network, customer service, and competitive fares.

Top 5 worst airlines in the world

Some airlines stand out for their excellence and win the loyalty of millions of passengers, but others sit at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Frequent delays, cancellations, lack of comfort, poor customer service, or baggage issues are just some of the reasons why they earn criticism and a bad reputation.

Now that we’ve looked at the best airlines in the world, it’s time to review the worst, because this is also valuable information when booking your next trip.

This Top 5 worst airlines ranking comes from a study by AirHelp, a platform specializing in air travel claims. After analyzing more than 100 airlines based on three criteria, punctuality, customer service, and claims handling, they compiled the following list.

• Tunisair
  Tunisair, the national airline of Tunisia, takes the top spot as the worst airline. With passengers rating it just 3.63 out of 10, it’s not exactly a title to be proud of. Low scores in customer satisfaction, claims processing, and punctuality put it at the bottom of the rankings. Passengers feel that Tunisair simply doesn’t take them into account.
• Buzz
  Based in Warsaw, Buzz has a bad reputation for its poor response to customer complaints. While its punctuality and customer satisfaction aren’t the worst, its lack of action when problems arise pushes it into second place among the worst airlines.
• Nouvelair
  In third place, we find another Tunisian airline. Although it scores reasonably well in customer satisfaction, its poor punctuality and inability to handle complaints bring down its overall rating.
• Bulgaria Air
  Scoring barely 5 out of 10, Bulgaria Air struggles with frequent delays, poor ground service, and ineffective problem resolution. Despite operating to more than 400 destinations, its scores don’t reflect the size of its network.
• Al Israel Airlines
  Israel’s national airline, with more than 75 years of history, seems not to have evolved at all. Chronic delays and a nonexistent complaints process are shocking given its experience in the industry. Flying El Al often means more headaches than smooth trips.

Low-cost airlines aren’t exempt from criticism either. Here are the worst-rated budget airlines, according to passenger feedback:

• Wizz Air
  According to consumer group Which?, Wizz Air was named the worst airline due to poor customer service, including long wait times and even disconnected calls.
• Buzz:
  AirHelp also gave Buzz a low score, primarily due to dissatisfaction with how the airline handles claims and customer care.
• Jetstar Airways
   Passenger reviews highlight serious issues, such as surprise cancellations, poor communication, and delayed refunds.
• Spirit Airlines
  The American carrier has faced numerous complaints on social media for deceptive practices, lack of transparency, and poor customer care, leaving passengers frustrated and unsupported.
• IndiGo:
  ndia’s low-cost giant ranks among the worst due to a lack of transparency and subpar customer service.

Choosing which airline to fly with isn’t something you should leave to chance. Knowing which airlines earn high marks, and which rack up complaints, helps you make smarter decisions when booking flights. Flying shouldn’t be a source of stress but the first enjoyable step toward your destination or the perfect close to a great vacation. 

With this information in hand, we hope your next flight is as smooth and pleasant as you expect!