- AirlineRatings.com named Qatar Airways as the world’s best premium airline for 2024.
- The ranking evaluates factors like safety, fleet age, customer reviews, and innovation.
- Here are the top five premium airlines worldwide, from Asia to New Zealand.
Flight passengers looking for an upscale experience in the air book their travels with premium airlines.
In May, AirlineRatings.com ranked the top premium airlines around the world in 2024. The website that rates air travel products and safety judged airlines on both criteria, as well as customer reviews, fleet age, and innovation.
Five of the website’s editors, who combined have more than 100 years of experience in the travel industry, decided the winners.
The ranking also includes categories for specific features, such as the best economy and business classes and the best long-haul travel airline in each region.
Read on to find out which airlines topped the list.
4. Air New Zealand
In addition to ranking fourth, Air New Zealand was awarded best economy class and was the top pick for long-haul travel in Australia and the Pacific.
Since 2011, the airline has had lie-flat bed seats in economy. BI’s reporter Taylor Rains previously booked a seat — known as a “Skycouch” — for a 17-hour flight and found that the added comfort made the long flight go by quickly.
BI’s reporter Monica Humphries flew with Air New Zealand in business class. She was impressed by spacious seats with footrests, three-course meals, and Champagne service before takeoff.
2. Korean Air
No. 2 on the list, Korean Air, won the excellence in long-haul travel title for North Asia.
Rains reviewed her experience on a 12-hour flight in Korea Air’s business class and said the cabin looked like a private jet with private, boxed-in quarters, and her seat felt more like a hotel room with a lie-flat bed, an amenity kit, and storage bins for her belongings.
1. Qatar Airways
In addition to being the world’s No. 1 premium airline, Qatar Airways won the best business class award for the fifth year in a row and received the excellence in long-haul travel award for the Middle East.
AirlineRatings.com editor in chief Geoffrey Thomas said Qatar Airways was the No. 1 pick for many of the criteria, according to the company’s website. In passenger reviews, Thomas noted the luxury airline scored far “ahead of all airlines, and its consistency and high standard of service delivery came through in the feedback.”
BI previously reported that Qatar Airways has impressive business-class suites, lavish complimentary amenities, gourmet food, and luxurious turn-down service.