Top 20 airlines in the world 2020

Best First Class: Singapore Airlines took the top prize again with its new first-class suites.

Best Business Class: Despite slipping to number nine in the overall rankings, Qatar Airways held onto its best business class title again this year. According to AirlineRatings Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas, “The airline’s Qsuite is a first-class experience in business class”. “It leaves little to chance, and our judges rated it as one of the best overall business-class products they had seen. It sets a standard to which some airlines can only aspire.”

Best Premium Economy: Star alliance partner Air New Zealand won this round thanks to comfortable seats and upscale amenities. Air New Zealand offers four classes of service, all classes are not available on all aircraft and routes: Business Class, Premium Economy Class, Economy SkyCouch and Economy Class.

Best Economy: Airlines award for best economy goest to Virgin Australia pulled out the win here thanks to spacious cabins in its Boeing 777 long-haul fleet.

Best Cabin Crew: Virgin Australia also took home this trophy for the second year in a row. “Virgin Australia has redefined the travel experience with its Economy X, Premium Economy, and standout Business Class,” said Thomas. “Add to that its cabin crew, which are the world’s best, and you have another airline punching well above its weight.”

Best Catering: Qatar Airways scored in this category for another year thanks to dine-on-demand service.

Best In-Flight Entertainment: Emirates won this category last year, too. “Emirates was one of the pioneers of In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) and one of the first to install seatback videos in the economy,” explained Thomas. “Today’s its IFE platform ICE (which stands for Information, Communication, Entertainment) is in a class of its own.”

Best Domestic service: Qantas Airways

Best Lounges: Qantas Airways remained the champion in this category for yet another year. Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said, “The judges were unanimous on the airline’s lounges which are exceptional”.

Domestic Airline of the Year: Qantas picked up the prize for best domestic airline service with a call out to its premium transcontinental product aboard the Airbus A330.

Most Improved Airline: Philippine airline Cebu Pacific took home the top spot in this category thanks to “a move to expand its global footprint using new generation fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Thomas.

Best Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier: Vietnam-based carrier VietJet once again earned top honors here thanks to “a smart business plan that brings affordable travel to millions.”

Best Airlines for Long Haul

1. Delta Air Lines (Americas)
2. Lufthansa (Europe)
3. Emirates (Middle East/Africa)
4. Cathay Pacific Airways (Asia)

Best Low-Cost Airlines

1. JetBlue (Americas)
2. Wizz (Europe)
3. AirAsia/AirAsia X (Asia/Pacific)
4. Air Arabia (Middle-East/Africa)

Read also the world’s safest airlines for 2020