On March 18, aviation rating website AirlineRatings released its World’s Best Airlines 2026 rankings.
This year, Qatar Airways retained the top spot among full-service carriers, followed by Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific in second place. Hainan Airlines ranked 14th, while China’s “Big Three” airlines failed to break into the Top 20.
Meanwhile, HK Express, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, climbed from fourth place last year to take the top spot among low-cost carriers, winning the world’s best low-cost carrier title for the first time. Spring Airlines ranked 20th on the LCC list.
According to AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen, although HK Express does not offer add-ons such as Wi-Fi or in-flight entertainment, its strengths lie in consistent cabin service and onboard dining. Its menu features a mix of Hong Kong street food and international cuisine, striking a balance between service quality, comfort, and value for money.
Over the past year, HK Express has continued to expand its Asian network and increase capacity, carrying nearly 8 million passengers. This means that at Hong Kong International Airport, one in every eight passengers flew with HK Express.
