Skytrax has now released the rankings for its 2026 World Airline Awards. Among the most prestigious categories is World’s Best Economy Class Airlines. Skytrax voters have put the top three economy class airlines in the world as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Qatar Airways. Given that in 2025 Singapore Airlines was third, and Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways were first and second respectively, it is clear that the quality of these products is exceptionally close.
The top-ranking airlines are not always those with the largest dimensions, although this factor undoubtedly helps. Rather, they are the airlines that combine dimensions, comfort, dining, service, entertainment, and more to create the best possible product for passengers hoping to save money.
These Are Skytrax’s Top 10 Economy Class Airlines For 2026
The table below shows Skytrax’s top 10 economy class airlines for 2026, while comparing this ranking to the overall 2026 and economy class 2025 results. The change column refers to the places a carrier has gone up or down since 2025:
Rank | Economy Class 2026 | Economy class 2025 | Change | Overall 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Singapore Airlines | Cathay Pacific Airlines | +2 | Singapore Airlines |
2 | Cathay Pacific Airlines | Qatar Airways | -1 | Qatar Airways |
3 | Qatar Airways | Singapore Airlines | -1 | Cathay Pacific Airways |
4 | EVA Air | All Nippon Airways | +2 | All Nippon Airways |
5 | All Nippon Airways | Japan Airlines | -1 | Turkish Airlines |
6 | Japan Airlines | EVA Air | -1 | Emirates |
7 | Hainan Airlines | Emirates | +2 | Air France |
8 | Turkish Airlines | STARLUX Airlines | +2 | Hainan Airlines |
9 | STARLUX Airlines | Hainan Airlines | -1 | Japan Airlines |
10 | Delta Air Lines | Turkish Airlines | New to top 10 | Korean Air |
The Skytrax awards have been called the “Oscars of aviation.” Millions of passengers from at least 100 countries vote in these entirely democratic awards for their favorite airlines across a range of categories. Alongside the economy class ranking, there are also awards for business class and premium economy products, low-cost airlines, leisure airlines and more. Over 300 airlines are included in the survey results, Skytrax says.
Skytrax announced the winners for its awards at London’s Langham Hotel on 18 September 2026. The survey ran from September 2025 to August 2026. Skytrax funds the awards from its other business ventures. To ensure impartiality, Skytrax receives no sponsorship and does not make charges or receive royalty payments based on the awards.
Singapore Airlines
Skytrax survey respondents say that Singapore Airlines has the world’s best economy class product. The airline markets its cheapest seats as being “designed to give you more personal space even if the seat in front of you is reclined.” Singapore Airlines offers a standard economy class legroom of 32 inches (81.3 cm). While on the longer side, this is 2 inches (5.1 cm) less than what is available on Japan Airlines, ANA, Emirates and some Korean Air flights. Further comfort is provided by a six-way headrest. An additional fee can be paid for extra legroom or to be positioned in the Forward Zone Seats which disembark first.
Singapore Airlines’ economy class isn’t only built around supreme comfort. The carrier also offers passengers a digital in-flight menu up to six weeks before flying. Entertainment comes from the KrisWorld entertainment system. Frequent flyers should download the SingaporeAir mobile app and create a KrisFlyer account to save their playlists and preferences.
Singapore Airlines also won the overall World’s Best Airline award. “We are grateful to our customers for their trust and support, and we are committed to delivering an exceptional, world-class travel experience every time they fly with us,” said Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines. “This award is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our people, who continually strive to uphold SIA’s renowned standards for service and operational excellence.”
Cathay Pacific Airways
Next on the Skytrax ranking is Cathay Pacific, which has been rewarded for its enormous investment in recent years. Cathay Group has spent HK$100 billion ($12.8 billion) to improve operations with new planes, updated cabins, and better digital tools. Much of this money has gone towards retrofitting older aircraft to ensure consistency across the fleet.
The table below shows the current Cathay Pacific fleet, according to Planespotters.net, demonstrating the range of aircraft that the carrier has needed to create a consistent economy class product across:
Aircraft type | In service | Parked | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Airbus A321 | 16 | 1 | 17 |
Airbus A330 | 38 | 5 | 43 |
Airbus A350 | 47 | 1 | 48 |
Boeing 747 | 19 | 1 | 20 |
Boeing 777 | 49 | 3 | 52 |
Total | 169 | 11 | 180 |
Like Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific has a standard seat pitch in economy class of 32 inches (81.3 cm). Passengers can also enjoy 18 inches (45.7 cm) of seat width aboard its modern Airbus A350 jets. Yet, comfort isn’t only built around these generous but not industry-leading dimensions. The seats have cushions and a six-way adjustable neck support, making bringing a travel pillow not always necessary. Cathay Pacific’s economy passengers can also use tablet holders and tables to entertain themselves and get work done on their own devices.
The airline hasn’t always had a well-loved economy class, but the investment is beginning to turn things around. “Cathay Pacific offers a fantastic Economy Class product on its A350-1000 aircraft. The seats are comfortable, the food is delicious, the entertainment (aptly) entertains, and the service has improved,” writes Jason from The Alviator in his review of Cathay Pacific’s A350 economy class.
Qatar Airways
Third in Skytrax’s economy class ranking is another roomy economy class product. You can also find 32 inches (81.3 cm) of pitch, although the width is a slight improvement on Cathay Pacific at 18.5 inches (47 cm) for some flights, according to Reward Flight Finder. This can drop to 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) on some aircraft.
Although it is a premium airline, Qatar Airways has taken inspiration from low-cost airlines with its complicated economy baggage allowance system. This is detailed in the table below, which makes use of Nerd Wallet’s data. Please note that some routes have additional restrictions on the dimensions of your bags:
Route | Economy Lite | Economy Classic | Economy Convenience | Economy Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa and the Americas | One bag weighing up to 50 lb (23 kg) | Two bags up to 50 lb (23 kg) each | Two bags up to 50 lb (23 kg) each | Two bags up to 50 lb (23 kg) each |
All other routes | 44 lb (20 kg) combined across unlimited bags | 55 lb (25 kg) combined across unlimited bags | 66 lb (30 kg) combined across unlimited bags | 77 lb (35 kg) combined across unlimited bags |
Qatar Airways offers its economy passengers particularly strong in-flight entertainment through its Oryx One system. This is particularly necessary given some of the incredibly long routes offered by Qatar Airways, with Doha to Auckland being one example. Oryx One has up to 8,000 entertainment options, including some of the world’s best films and TV shows. It also features games, music and children’s entertainment.
EVA Air
EVA Air is renowned for its business class and for helping to bring premium economy to the aviation industry. Yet, its economy class is also worthy of applause despite an unusual level of inconsistency in seat selection across the airline’s various aircraft types. Its A330s make use of the Safran 5751 seat, while its 777s use the Collins Pinnacle. EVA’s Dreamliners use the Recaro CL3710. All of these seats are fairly spacious, with 31 inches (81 cm) of pitch and three inches (7.6 cm) of recline.
There are also inconsistencies regarding the entertainment screens available to passengers. The carrier’s older A330s make use of small screens measuring 8.9 inches (23 cm), while all the Boeing jets have screens measuring 10 inches (25.4 cm).
The best EVA Air economy class experience can be found on the carrier’s Boeing 777-300ER. These jets’ economy cabins are configured nine abreast. 10 abreast is the standard configuration for these wide twin jets, making the cabin feel much more spacious.
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
ANA’s domestic narrowbody economy class is the cramped fare you can expect for cheap and short-haul flying. Yet, its international widebodies offer a truly impressive product for the lowest-paying passengers. The standard pitch on these flights is 34 inches (86 cm). It offers charging ports across its fleet. The airline’s A380s and reconfigured 777s have the newest economy class products, giving passengers an entertainment screen measuring 13.3 inches (33.8 cm).
Couchii is where ANA’s economy class becomes unique. Passengers can purchase an entire section of three or four seats with a leg rest that extends upwards, creating a bed area. This concept, first introduced by Air New Zealand, is still only seen on a handful of airlines worldwide. These seats are available in rows 71 to 76.
This Japanese airline placed fifth in this year’s Skytrax economy class awards, dropping a place. ANA can expect to go soaring back up the table if it is able to bring its short-haul economy class up to standard with its international economy class.
