No Surprises at Skytrax 2025 World Airline Awards
- Refined Points
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
After another year of voter ballots, seat-map analytics, and the inevitable inflight-meal debates, Skytrax revealed its 2025 World Airline Awards at the Paris Air Show on 17 June 2025.
For the uninitiated, the Skytrax World Airline Awards are often dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry,” based on millions of passenger surveys evaluating everything from cabin comfort to crew service.
Topping the list—again—was Qatar Airways, proving that seven-star service, cavernous Qsuites, and a CEO who can spot a smudge on a coffee spoon from 30,000 ft still pay dividends.
I’ve written extensively on Qatar Airways across Refined Points, and yes, the only credit card ecosystem worth talking about for Qatar Avios remains CIMB’s—thanks to its direct conversion path. And no, the HSBC TravelOne Mastercard’s Avios conversion still doesn’t count—let’s just say it’s more of a poorly-crafted joke than a strategy.
With Qatar Airways unveiling its upcoming Next Generation QSuites, there's even more to look forward to. For those who’ve had the pleasure of flying with them, it’s not just the seat—it’s the consistency, the finesse, and the global reach that puts Qatar ahead of the curve, even while other airlines throw billions at new cabins and upgraded inflight Wi-Fi.
Now, Let's Talk Strategy
As many of you know, my 2025 Airline Miles Strategy is anchored around Asia Miles, and with Cathay Pacific climbing into third place—its highest ranking in over five years—I couldn’t be more validated. Cathay’s jump from fifth to third is a clear sign of its resurgence post-pandemic and reaffirms its position as the oneworld carrier to watch.
I’ve already got enough Asia Miles banked for a trip in Cathay Pacific’s all-new Aria Suites later this year. This next-gen business class product is a modern refinement of an already excellent offering, with private suites, wireless charging, and sliding doors for added privacy.
On top of that, I’m particularly excited to revisit the newly revamped lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, which are a result of The Wing First Class Lounge's renovation.
As for future developments, Cathay Pacific has big plans for its business class product on the upcoming Boeing 777X fleet. The new “Aria Suite XL” will likely include enhanced privacy features, expanded personal space, and an elevated dining experience. However, due to ongoing Boeing 777X certification delays, the debut of these seats has been postponed to at least 2026 or later—so don’t hold your breath just yet.
And of course, no annual recap would be complete without mentioning Malaysia Airlines, which climbed to 27th place globally—up from 39th last year. It’s a commendable improvement, but still far from the elite tier many loyal fans wish it would reclaim.
While MAS continues to earn praise for its warm and gracious cabin crew (ranking eighth globally in that category), its overall hard product remains middling at best. For a flag carrier with such a rich legacy, it often feels like the onboard experience is trapped in a time capsule.
Full credit to MAS, with more A330-900neo aircraft deliveries coming up, it's a matter of time before our national airline goes back to compete with the likes of other regional airlines, and maybe ten more years before it competes with the top 10 in Skytrax's list!
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards were, frankly, no shocker. Qatar Airways’ dominance continues to be well-earned, with its QSuite legacy (and soon, Next Gen QSuites) remaining the gold standard in business class. Cathay Pacific’s resurgence is both impressive and reassuring for Asia Miles collectors like myself—its rise to third place feels like a homecoming of sorts.
Singapore Airlines, as always, performed exceptionally—but I haven’t mentioned them much here simply because... well, they’re always good. Their consistency in both product and service is almost boring at this point—in the best way possible. It’s just another day at the office for SIA.
As for Malaysia Airlines, the small climb in rankings shows promise, but there's still a long road ahead if it ever hopes to break into the top 10. Until then, I’ll continue watching (and flying) the likes of Qatar and Cathay—where world-class isn’t a hope, but a guarantee.
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