Best Airline in Africa: Ethiopian Dominance Enters 9-Year Streak at SKYTRAX 2026
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Airlines has been named Best Airline in Africa at the 2026 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards for the ninth consecutive year, extending an uninterrupted run at the top of the continent’s airline rankings. The Addis Ababa-based carrier took three regional honours this year, also winning Best Business Class in Africa and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Africa in the passenger-voted awards.
The results place Ethiopian first in the African category ahead of EgyptAir, Air Mauritius, Royal Air Maroc and RwandAir. The wider 2026 continental top ten saw notable movement: EgyptAir surged from fifth to second, Air Mauritius slipped to third, Royal Air Maroc climbed to fourth and RwandAir took fifth, while South African Airways, Kenya Airways, FlySafair, Fastjet and LIFT completed the ranking.
Commenting on the recognition, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said: “Being recognized as the Skytrax Best Airline in Africa for the ninth consecutive year is a proud milestone for Ethiopian Airlines. This achievement reflects the confidence that our valued customers place in us, the dedication of our employees, and our continued commitment to delivering world-class service. We are honored by the recognition and remain committed to delivering excellence to every passenger we serve.”
The triple win underscores the airline’s sustained investment in modern aircraft, digital innovation, network expansion and service improvements aimed at enhancing the customer experience. As it grows its global footprint, the group remains focused on convenient connectivity, reliable operations and personalized travel experiences across its network spanning five continents.
For passengers, the outcome reinforces Addis Ababa’s status as one of Africa’s principal connecting gateways — a hub where the continent’s most-honoured carrier links secondary African cities to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas without the detours that once defined intercontinental travel from the continent
