Flyers' Choice Awards 2026

Singapore Airlines has emerged as the big winner in AirlineRatings.com’s 2026 Flyers’ Choice Awards, taking home four titles in the only AirlineRatings.com awards voted entirely by travellers.

The awards recognise the airlines that passengers believe deliver the best experiences across a range of categories, with the results based solely on traveller votes. Singapore Airlines was named Preferred Economy Airline, Best Cabin Crew Service, best airline in Central and South East Asia and the Airline That Gave the Greatest Peace of Mind, making it the most decorated airline in this year’s awards.

Unlike the World’s Safest Airlines and World’s Best Airline awards, which are judged by the AirlineRatings.com expert editorial team using strict and measurable criteria, the Flyers’ Choice Awards are determined entirely by passenger feedback. They provide a direct insight into which airlines are winning the confidence and loyalty of travellers.

Passengers largely stayed loyal to their home regions, with six of the seven regional winners retaining their titles from 2025.

In North America, Delta Air Lines once again came out on top, holding off fierce competition from United and American Airlines. Across Europe, British Airways claimed the title for a second consecutive year, ahead of Lufthansa and KLM. That's particularly impressive in a region with such a diverse mix of airlines, from traditional flag carriers to the low-cost giants that carry millions of passengers every year.

In North East Asia, Cathay Pacific took the honours ahead of Japan Airlines and ANA as it continues its return to full strength following the pandemic. The introduction of its highly regarded Aria Suite, with the Aria Studio business class still to come, has given passengers another compelling reason to choose the airline.

Singapore Airlines once again topped Central and South East Asia, finishing ahead of Vietnam Airlines and Philippine Airlines. Philippine Airlines' place on the podium reflects years of steady investment, from new Airbus A350s to an onboard experience that continues to showcase the warmth and hospitality for which Filipino service is renowned.

In South and Central America LATAM came on top this year, beating 2025’s winner Avianca. The win comes hand in hand with the group's biggest investment since restructuring. LATAM took delivery of 40 next-generation aircraft in 2026, including A320neos and Boeing 787-9s. The first Embraer E195-E2 will arrive later this year, breaking a long reliance on Airbus for short-haul flying.

Best livery, cabin, crew uniform and Peace of Mind

Vietnam Airlines iconic golden lotus design on a deep teal, named VNA Blue, won it Best Aircraft Livery, finishing ahead of Air New Zealand and Etihad. Vietnam Airlines’ Golden Lotus Livery was introduced in 2002 on its new Boeing 777 aircraft, and symbolises the nations emblem.

Qatar Airways wins Preferred Business Class thanks to its world-class Qsuite, with Emirates second and Singapore Airlines third. The Qsuite is still the world’s favourite business class suite, despite being released almost a decade ago. Emirates takes Preferred Premium Economy, while Singapore Airlines wins Preferred Economy before adding a fourth title for Best Cabin Crew Service, an award it also held in 2025.

Vietjet Air also secured two awards, taking out Favourite Low-Cost Carrier and Best Cabin Crew Uniform. Its outfit is based on the concept of youth army cadet uniforms, honouring youth movements and volunteer groups across Vietnam.

Singapore Airlines claimed the top spot in the Peace of Mind category, with Qantas finishing an extremely close second. The narrow result highlights the exceptional level of trust passengers place in both carriers when it comes to safety and confidence. airBaltic is the surprise performer among the seven winners, with the European carrier standing alongside Emirates, Etihad and Cathay Pacific in passenger trust. For an airline of its size, that speaks volumes about the consistency of its operation and the confidence it has built with travellers.

Singapore Airlines said it was grateful to its customers for their strong support in this year’s AirlineRatings.com Flyers’ Choice Awards.

“Singapore Airlines will continue to invest in our products and services and remains firmly committed to enhancing the end-to-end travel experience for our customers,” said Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines.

AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said: “We are incredibly fortunate to live in a world where travellers have so many airlines delivering safe, reliable and reassuring experiences. The continued strength of brands like Singapore Airlines and Qantas in the Peace of Mind category is a real credit to the trust they have built with passengers over many years. Confidence in an airline is earned over time, and these results demonstrate the value of that consistency.”

When asked whether any of the results surprised her, Petersen said: “I was surprised not to see Qantas among the winners for Premium Economy, and I expected Cathay Pacific to feature more strongly in Business Class because its Aria Suite is a spectacular product. However, these are the Flyers' Choice Awards, so the results reflect the experiences of the travelling public rather than an editorial assessment. Products that are still being rolled out or have a smaller network reach simply haven't been experienced by as many passengers yet, and that is naturally reflected in the voting.

“What didn't surprise me was Vietnam Airlines winning Best Livery. The aircraft design is simply stunning and one of the most elegant in the skies today.

“I also wasn't surprised to see Vietjet win Best Cabin Crew Uniform. The design is unique, fun and instantly recognisable while still celebrating Vietnamese culture. That said, Malaysia Airlines' Kebaya came a very close second and remains one of the most elegant and iconic uniforms in aviation.”

*Just a single vote separated Jetstar and easyJet from third place.