Korean Air has ascended to the pinnacle of aviation, earning the title of Airline of the Year for 2025, as declared by AirlineRatings.com, the renowned aviation safety and product rating website. A significant factor contributing to this achievement is the airline's commitment to passenger comfort, particularly the generous legroom offered in its economy class.
According to AirlineRatings, Korean Air's victory is largely attributed to its "focus on passenger comfort," notably providing the "most spacious economy-class seating of any airline in the world," a distinction shared with Japan Airlines.
The South Korean flag carrier surpassed Qatar Airways, last year's champion, which gracefully ceded the top spot to secure second place. Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific claimed the third and fourth positions, respectively. Singapore Airlines (SIA), after ranking 12th last year, made a remarkable leap into the top 10, landing in fifth place on this year's list.
AirlineRatings.com employs a comprehensive evaluation process, considering both passenger feedback and expert reviews. Key criteria include passenger comfort, product consistency, innovation, safety, and financial stability.
This year, the company placed "particular emphasis" on the economy class experience, recognizing that this is where the majority of passengers travel, explained AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen.
"We consistently receive feedback about the lack of space in Economy Class, so it was only fitting to make this a major factor in selecting this year’s award winner," she added. "While many airlines have crammed in an extra seat per row on 777 aircraft and reduced seat pitch in economy to 31 to 32 inches (down from the previous 32 to 33 inches), Korean Air has resisted this trend."
"They have maintained their original seat configuration and a generous 33- to 34-inch seat pitch, offering passengers a significantly more comfortable experience."
The airline's ongoing merger with Asiana Airlines was also acknowledged by the ratings company as a demonstration of "business strength and future readiness."
Interestingly, other airline review platforms present slightly different rankings. On Skytrax's World's Top 100 Airlines awards for 2024, SIA held a strong second-place ranking, while Korean Air was positioned 11th. Qatar Airways topped the Skytrax list.
AirlineRatings.com's Top 25 Full Service Airlines for 2025:
Korean Air
Qatar Airways
Air New Zealand
Cathay Pacific
Singapore Airlines
Emirates
Japan Airlines
Qantas
Etihad
Turkish Airlines... (and so on)
Best Low-Cost Airlines for 2025:
In addition to the World's Best Airlines Awards, AirlineRatings.com also unveiled its Best Low-Cost Airlines for 2025 list. AirAsia led the pack, followed by Jetstar and AirBaltic. Singapore's Scoot, a subsidiary of SIA, secured eighth place. The complete list is available on the AirlineRatings.com website.
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