World’s best airlines of 2026 revealed. See the top 10

18The annual Skytrax World Airline Awards named Singapore Airlines the world’s best airline of 2026.

U.S. airlines were notably absent from the top 10, and none made the top 20. Air Canada, which ranked No. 17, was the only North American carrier to make the global top 20, according to Skytrax.

The results were announced Sept. 18 at a ceremony at London’s Langham Hotel. The awards are based on passenger surveys covering more than 300 airlines globally.

Singapore Airlines reclaimed the top spot from Qatar Airways, which ranked No. 2 this year. It marks the sixth time Singapore Airlines has received Skytrax’s top honor since the awards began in 1999.

Here are Skytrax’s 10 highest-ranked airlines for 2026:

The top 10 include six Asia-based airlines, two from the Middle East and two from Europe.

Qatar Airways moved down one spot after winning the overall award in 2025. The airline still received four major honors this year, including World's Best Business Class Airline, World's Best Business Class Lounge and World's Best Onboard Wi-Fi, a new award category for 2026.

No U.S. airline appeared among Skytrax's top 20 global carriers.

Delta Air Lines ranked No. 26 and United Airlines ranked No. 45 in the overall rankings.

U.S. airlines did appear in individual categories. Delta, for example, ranked No. 10 for best economy class and No. 6 for inflight entertainment.

Skytrax's 2025-26 customer survey ran from September 2025 through August 2026 and included travelers from more than 100 nationalities. The survey covered more than 300 airlines, with passengers evaluating aspects of their travel experience.

Skytrax says the awards measure areas including cabin service, seat comfort, food and beverages, cleanliness, entertainment and other aspects of the passenger experience. The organization says it pays the costs of operating the survey and awards process.

Singapore Airlines also won World's Best Economy Class and World's Best Economy Class Onboard Catering.

Cathay Pacific, which ranked No. 3 overall, was named World's Best Cabin Crew. Air France won World's Best First Class, while EVA Air received the World's Best Premium Economy award.

Starlux Airlines, No. 13 overall, was named World's Cleanest Airline and received its second consecutive five-star Skytrax rating. AirAsia was named World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the 17th consecutive year.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World’s best airlines of 2026 revealed. See the top 10