AirlineRatings.com has unveiled its highly anticipated World’s Best Airline Awards for 2025, recognizing the airlines that have excelled in passenger comfort, service, and innovation. Unlike its World’s Safest Airlines rankings, these awards focus on the overall passenger experience, evaluating each airline’s performance across its fleet and network.
This year’s winner? Korean Air has been crowned Airline of the Year 2025, thanks to its industry-leading economy class comfort, premium service, and commitment to innovation. The airline stands out for maintaining a generous seat pitch of 33–34 inches on its wide-body aircraft—offering passengers more legroom than many competitors. Thoughtful touches like slippers and well-portioned meals on long-haul flights further enhance the experience. Korean Air’s strong financial standing, its historic merger with Asiana Airlines, and investments in modern, fuel-efficient aircraft solidified its position at the top.
But beyond the rankings, one major change shook up this year’s awards: the introduction of a brand-new category—Best Hybrid Airlines. As more carriers adapt their models to combine elements of full-service and low-cost travel, AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen explained the shift, stating, “These airlines deserve recognition for their excellence in hybrid operations and their innovative offerings. We are proud to be the first aviation media outlet to acknowledge this shift.”
Alongside Korean Air, here’s a look at the top 25 full-service best airlines of 2025:
- Korean Air
- Qatar Airways
- Air New Zealand
- Cathay Pacific
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- Japan Airlines
- Qantas
- Etihad Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- EVA Air
- Fiji Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- ANA (All Nippon Airways)
- Aeromexico
- Air Caraïbes
- Thai Airways
- STARLUX Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- SriLankan Airlines
- Air France
- KLM (trialing a hybrid model on select routes)
- Air Calin
- Air Mauritius
- Garuda Indonesia
With a mix of established giants and rising stars, this year’s rankings reflect the evolving landscape of global air travel. As airlines compete for passenger loyalty, innovations in comfort, affordability, and sustainability will continue to shape the future of flying.
For travelers, these rankings guide the best airline experiences available in 2025—whether flying in economy, business, or first class.
