World’s best airlines were just crowned and one US carrier made the list

• JetBlue has been recognized as the top US full-service airline, ranking 17th globally in AirlineRatings.com's 2026 awards.
• The New York-headquartered carrier is praised for its modern fleet, comfortable economy seating with 32-34 inches of pitch, and complimentary gate-to-gate Wi-Fi.
• In the “hybrid” category for airlines offering “a mix of onboard service, modeling low cost or full service depending on the length of flight,” Delta emerged top in the U.S., coming fourth overall in the 20-strong ranking.
• In the low-cost category, Breeze emerged as the leading US airline, ranking seventh globally, offering point-to-point travel and free in-flight entertainment.
• The global awards saw Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, and HK Express topping the full-service, hybrid, and low-cost categories respectively.

IN FULL

The best US airlines for 2026 are revealed in prestigious industry rankings