Air Canada (AC) has once again secured its position as a dominant force in regional and international aviation after being named the Best Airline in North America at the prestigious 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The major achievement marks the second consecutive year that the Canadian flag carrier has earned this top regional title, while also representing the tenth time Air Canada has received the award since 2010. Handed out at an official ceremony hosted in London, United Kingdom, the Skytrax awards are evaluated through comprehensive customer satisfaction surveys gathering feedback from millions of global travelers. Beyond taking home the primary North American crown, the carrier’s Toronto Air Canada Signature Suite was recognized as offering the World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining for the third straight year. Air Canada further expanded its collection of accolades during the ceremony by securing awards for Best Cabin Crew in Canada, Best Economy On Board Catering in North America, and Best Business Class Lounge in North America.
The strong performance at this year’s ceremony also translated into a notable rise in global standings for the airline. Air Canada moved up two spots to land at 17th place among the World’s Top 100 Airlines in 2026. This ranking holds particular significance for the carrier and the broader region, as Air Canada stands as the only North American airline to earn a place inside the global top 20 list this year.
Reacting to the major wins, Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada, emphasized the role of both customers and frontline personnel in achieving these honors. “We’re incredibly proud to be named Best Airline in North America. On behalf of 40,000 Air Canada coworkers around the world, we thank our customers for their trust, loyalty, and for choosing to fly with us. Their recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the views of the people who experience our products and services firsthand. This award belongs to our people, whose professionalism, dedication, and genuine care for our customers make moments of exceptional hospitality possible across our global network. I’m honoured to accept this recognition on their behalf and thank them for their commitment to elevating the customer experience,” said Nasr.
These latest Skytrax recognitions underscore Air Canada’s established leadership within the commercial aviation industry and highlight its ongoing efforts to refine every aspect of the passenger experience on the ground and in the air.Over the past several years, the airline has implemented a comprehensive suite of passenger-facing upgrades. These include offering fast, free Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell, alongside an industry-leading mobile app with significantly expanded digital capabilities. Onboard, passengers benefit from complimentary premium snacks, wine, and beer across all flights, as well as an expanded library of content on the carrier’s award-winning in-flight entertainment platform.
Air Canada has matched these inflight additions with extensive groundwork and product enhancements across its broader operation. The carrier has continuously invested in building new and upgraded airport lounges, streamlining passenger processing at terminals, developing its award-winning Aeroplan loyalty program, and establishing seamless intermodal travel options that allow passengers to combine air and ground connections under a single ticket. Elevating its fleet capabilities further, the airline introduced its next-generation cabin interior earlier this year coinciding with the commercial entry into service of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Featuring the company’s new Glowing Hearted cabin design, the interior focuses on creating a distinctly Canadian travel environment centered around heightened comfort, care, and connectivity for passengers across its route network.