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Top 100 Best Airlines In The World (2023)

The best airlines in the world is a very interesting list to read because it is full of surprises. This list includes small airlines (by number of aircraft and routes), and also includes a number of airlines from sub Saharan Africa; some of which have been ranked ahead of their counterparts in Europe.

These are the airlines that offer the best value for money in terms of flight experience, and of course, safety. These are what passengers want the most; and are even willing to pay a little more to get from an airline.

To be fair; the aviation industry is not an easy one; it takes a lot of money and planning to build a world class airline; and even then things may not go as planned.

Top 100 Best Airlines In The World

1. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has reached this position through the sheer power of the dollar; it has spent billions on strategic marketing. This airline has sponsored Football Clubs and tournaments, and even the FIFA World Cup so as to gain brand visibility.

Qatar Airways was founded in 1993, and operates out of its headquarters in Doha, Qatar. The airline has one of the most expansive networks in the world; it flies to over 150 international destinations across the world; including countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

Qatar Airways employs 43,000 people all over the world; and has a fleet of over 200 aircraft. It is the most recognizable logo in the sky; and achieved this brand value through extensive advertising and marketing.

2. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is one of the most luxurious airlines in the world; and with good reason- it is from the most luxurious country (arguably) in the world. Singapore has the highest concentration of wealth per km in the world; and has a high standard of everything.

Singapore Airlines was founded in 1947, and operates as a global carrier; albeit through a different system. It has over 20 subsidiaries operating in different regions across the world, and also operates long range flights across the world.

This is an airline that is noted for the luxury it offers; it has been rated as a 5star airline for the last 30 years. It was the first to roll out the Airbus A380—the world’s largest passenger aircraft—and the equally big Boeing 787-10 into service. Even now, it is the only operator of the ultra-long-range (ULR) version of the Airbus A350–900.

3. Emirates

Emirates is one most recognized airlines in the world; it is the shirt sponsor of at least 4 top football clubs in Europe. It has also spent a fortune in sponsorship of various sporting events mostly in Europe.

Emirates Air was founded in 1985, and today it has a fleet of over 250 airlines. This is the largest airline in the world; and it is owned by the Government of Dubai. This airline has around 3500 scheduled flights per week, and has flights to 150 cities in 80 countries of the world.

Emirates has over 102,000 employees around the world; that makes it the largest airline in the world by fleet size, and also by staff size.

The airline is known to give generous baggage allowances; and to operate a very efficient service. The air hostesses are also very beautiful.

4 ANA All Nippon Airways

ANA All Nippon Airways is a Japanese airline which was founded in 1952. It has its headquarters in Tokyo, and operates local and international destinations. This airline has several subsidiaries; some of which are local, regional and international. Interestingly it also has a low cost airline, which is different from the conventional airlines. ANA All Nippon Airways also has a luxury or executive arm.

This airline is ranked as a 5star airline, and has a fleet size of 212, going to 104 destinations. This airline has a staff size of 42,196; meaning that it is no pushover in terms of organizational structure or financial strength.

ANA All Nippon Airways may not be a visible name depending on where one lives; but through its subsidiaries it plays an active role in the aviation industry; and it is one of the industry giants.

5. Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways, which is also known as the Flying Kangaroo, is an Australian airline. Contrary to what many people may think; it bears no similarity with the other airline with a similar name which has been highlighted earlier. In fact this airline precedes that one by quite a long time; it was founded in 1920, and there is only one airline in the world which is older than it.

Qantas Airways has a fleet of about 124 aircraft, flying to 94 destinations. It has 7 subsidiaries and they may concentrate on specific markets such as cargo, chartered flights, luxury travel, and so on.

This company also owns a low cost airline traveling from Australia, and also operating local flights within the country.

6. Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines is a major airline in the world; it is an impressive airline which is also Japan’s flag carrier. It’s headquarters is in Shinagawa, Tokyo, while its main hubs are Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and Haneda Airport, as well as the Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

Japan Airlines may not be one of the most popular names in the airline industry, but it is certainly one of the most formidable. It has at least 7 subsidiaries; some of which are devoted to specific markets such as cargo, charter, and executive services.

This airline has a fleet size of 145 aircraft, and they fly to at least 92 destinations. If we take into account the business done by its subsidiaries, including those in the cargo industry, it has a total movement (scheduled and non-scheduled) 220 destinations in 35 countries worldwide.

7. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is a leading player in the aviation industry, and a member of the Star Alliance. It is the Flag Carrier of Turkey, and has the biggest network in terms of the areas covered; with 126 countries.

This airline has a fleet of 419 (including cargo planes) and services 340 destinations. The airline has at least 15 subsidiaries in different countries, and it is one of the biggest airlines in terms of operational scope.

The airline was founded in 1933, and is now worth around 30 billion dollars in total assets, with a staff strength of about 37,600.

This is one of the visible names in the aviation industry, and at the same time the best in the world in terms of reach. It is a 5star airline, and the pride of Turkey.

8. Air France

Air France is one of the powerhouses of the aviation industry; it is the Flag Carrier of France, and one of the most popular names in aviation.

This airline is part of the Air France-KLM Group; which is arguably the biggest force in aviation. It’s headquarters is in the Charles de Gaulle Airport, north of Paris.

This airline serves 29 destinations in France, as well as scheduled passenger and cargo services to 201 destinations in 78 countries across the world. In terms of operational scope; it has 248 aircraft, and if we count the cargo planes it gets up to 223 destinations.

Air France has a value of 16 billion euros, and employs 84,602 people worldwide.

9. Korean Air

Korean Air is one of the most important airlines in Asia; it is the Flag Carrier of South Korea. It is also the country’s biggest airline in terms of fleet size, and number of destinations.

This airline has a fleet size of 164 aircraft, and it services 121 local and international destinations. This airline has 6 subsidiaries; some of which focus on cargo, and other markets.

This airline was established in 1969, although its roots go back to 1962. Presently, its international passenger division and related subsidiary cargo division together fly to 126 cities in 44 countries.

Korean Air is part of a bigger conglomerate, which also operates in the Hospitality Industry through ownership of several hotels and other such ventures.

10. Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines, which is also known as Swiss Air, and also just as SWISS, is an international airline, and also the flag carrier of Switzerland. It has scheduled and non-scheduled flights to 82 destinations across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. This airline was established in 2002, when Swissair (the nation’s former flag carrier) went bankrupt.

It is based in Basel, Switzerland, and flies to 102 destinations (plus cargo), using a fleet of 85 aircraft, which makes it a large airline. When you consider the fact that this company is also a member of the Lufthansa Group; it becomes considerably larger.

Swiss International Air Lines has 7,916, which makes it one of the biggest airlines by staff strength. It recently recorded revenues of 2.1 billion Swiss Francs.

The following is a more extensive list of the top 100 airlines in the world.

Rank Airline Headquarters
1 Qatar Airways Doha, Qatar
2 Singapore Airlines Singapore
3 Emirates Dubai, UAE
4 ANA All Nippon Airways Osaka, Japan
5 Qantas Airways Sydney, Australia
6 Japan Airlines Japan
7 Turkish Airlines Istanbul, Turkey
8 Air France Paris, France
9 Korean Air Seoul, South Korea
10 Swiss International Air Lines Basel, Switzerland
11 British Airways London
12 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi
13 China Southern Airlines Beijing
14 Hainan Airlines Haikou, Hainan, China
15 Lufthansa Cologne, Germany
16 Cathay Pacific Airways Hong Kong
17 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Amsterdam, Netherlands
18 EVA Air Taiwan
19 Virgin Atlantic Crawley, England
20 Vistara Guguram, India
21 Finnair Helsinki, Finland
22 Gulf Air Bahrain
23 Bangkok Airways Bangkok, Thailand
24 Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Georgia, USA
25 Iberia Madrid, Spain
26 Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
27 AirAsia Sepang, Malaysia
28 Aegean Airlines Kifisia, Greece
29 Scoot Singapore
30 Air New Zealand New Zealand
31 Garuda Indonesia Indonesia
32 Austrian Airlines Schwechat, Austria
33 Asiana Airlines Seoul, South Korea
34 Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
35 Southwest Airlines Dallas, Texas, USA
36 Fiji Airways Nadi, Fiji
37 Oman Air Oman
38 Air Astana Almaty, Kazakhstan
39 WestJet Calgary, Canada
40 Ryanair Swords, Dublin, Ireland
41 JetBlue Airways Long island, new York, USA
42 China Airlines China
43 Virgin Australia Sydney, Australia
44 Malaysia Airlines Malaysia
45 IndiGo Guguram, India
46 Thai Airways Thailand
47 LATAM Las condes, Chile
48 Vietnam Airlines Vietnam
49 Azul Airlines Sao Paulo, brazil
50 Air Canada Canada
51 Vueling Airlines Llobregat, Spain
52 Azerbaijan Airlines Azerbaijan, Airlines
53 Royal Brunei Airlines Brunei
54 Aer Lingus Dublin Ireland
55 EasyJet Luton, England
56 Jet2.com Yeadon, United Kingdom
57 Jetstar Airways Melbourne, Australia
58 Flynas Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
59 Alaska Airlines Alaska, United States
60 United Airlines Chicago, Illinois, United States
61 SunExpress Antalya, Turkey
62 Peach Sennan, Osaka, Japan
63 Eurowings Dusseldorf, Germany
64 SAS Scandinavian Stockholm, Sweden
65 Hawaiian Airlines Hawaii, United States
66 Royal Air Maroc Morocco
67 TAP Portugal Portugal
68 American Airlines United States
69 Hong Kong Airlines Hong Kong
70 airBaltic Marupe, Latvia
71 Jetstar Asia Singapore
72 Rex Airlines Sydney, Australia
73 LOT Polish Poland
74 Air Transat Montreal, Canada
75 Brussels Airlines Brussels, Belgium
76 Kuwait Airways Kuwait
77 Philippine Airlines Philippines
78 Air Arabia Sharjah, UAE
79 South African Airways South Africa
80 flyDubai Dubai, UAE
81 Kenya Airways Kenya
82 Air Canada rouge Canada
83 Air Malta Malta
84 Norwegian Norway
85 Sky Airline Santiago, Chile
86 TUI Airways Luton, United Kingdom
87 Copa Airlines Panama city, Panama
88 Air Mauritius Mauritius
89 JetSmart Santiago, Chile
90 American Eagle United states
91 Citilink Jakarta, Indonesia
92 Air Serbia Serbia
93 Wizz Air Budapest, Hungary
94 Avianca Bogota, Colombia
95 Egyptair Egypt
96 China Eastern Airlines China
97 Air Dolomiti Verona, Italy
98 ITA Airways Rome, Italy
99 LEVEL New York
100 Buta Airways Baku, Azerbaijan

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Closing

The best airlines in the world are not necessarily the most expensive; luxury is only a sector in the aviation industry. To be considered good an airline only has to be efficient; even if it is a low cost airline, it should provide its services on schedule, and have a great customer service. These are some of the ways to win customer love and loyalty, and thus favor in the industry.

 

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