AirAsia has once again proven its unmatched leadership in budget aviation after being named the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for the 17th consecutive year at the prestigious 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This landmark recognition holds particular significance as the carrier simultaneously marks 25 years of making air travel more accessible and affordable to travelers around the globe. Frequently referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry,” the Skytrax World Airline Awards represent one of the highest standard honors in commercial aviation. The annual results stem from the independent World Airline Survey, which captures the authentic experiences and opinions of international passengers. For AirAsia, taking home this top spot serves as a powerful testament to the deep trust and loyalty built with its guests over two full decades and a half of flight operations.
Accepting the award on behalf of the company during the ceremony, AirAsia Co-Founder Datuk Kamarudin Meranun highlighted the airline’s humble origins and long-standing commitment to budget travel. Meranun said, “We started AirAsia 25 years ago with a simple mission: to make flying accessible to more people. To see how far we’ve come, and to still be trusted by travellers around the world today, is something we’re incredibly proud of. The Skytrax recognition is a reflection of the trust travellers have placed in AirAsia and that is something we never take for granted.”
The leadership team also acknowledged the unwavering dedication of its workforce in maintaining high operational standards despite external industry challenges. According to Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group, “This recognition is a vote of confidence from our guests, and we’re grateful for their continued trust and support. Especially at a time when aviation faces so much uncertainty and geopolitical headwinds, it’s a testament to the resilience, grit and uncompromising commitment of every Allstar who continues to deliver for our guests. This award truly belongs to our Allstars. As AirAsia continues to expand across Asean and beyond, we look forward to connecting more people and destinations, while staying committed to earning our guests’ trust with every journey.”
Industry leaders praised the carrier for sustaining its dominance in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said, “We congratulate AirAsia on this fabulous achievement at the 2026 World Airline Awards. This success for a record seventeenth time demonstrates the airline’s dedication to providing quality, affordable travel options for their customers. This is a most competitive and fast growing market for low cost airlines, and this award is a clear affirmation of AirAsia’s success.”
From its modest beginnings starting out as a single low-cost airline 25 years ago, AirAsia has transformed into a massive global low-cost network carrier. Today, it connects millions of passengers across Asia and other global regions while continuously refining its network reach and guest experience. Throughout this incredible expansion, the low-cost giant has consistently stayed faithful to its founding vision of delivering reliable, accessible, and high-value air travel options. The global standing of the Skytrax awards remains uncompromised, as the underlying World Airline Survey operates with total independence. The survey is conducted entirely by Skytrax without charging any registration or entry fees to participating airlines, ensuring that every result purely reflects the real voice of global travelers.