Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines secured leading regional positions at the annual World Airline Awards organized by Skytrax, though structural changes to geographic groupings complicated year-over-year comparisons. According to Skytrax, Air Serbia was voted the second-best airline in Eastern Europe, advancing from third place in the previous edition. Air Serbia finished behind airBaltic and ahead of Georgian Airways, Bulgaria Air, and TAROM.
Geographic Reshuffle Impacts Eastern and Central European Rankings
Skytrax introduced a new Central European ranking category for the awards, which caused a significant shift in regional line-ups. According to published survey data, three carriers previously grouped under Eastern Europe—LOT Polish Airlines, Wizz Air, and Croatia Airlines—were moved into the newly formed Central European table. Croatia Airlines placed third in this new category, trailing LOT Polish Airlines and Wizz Air. Skytrax populated the Central European table with only those three carriers.
By comparison, Croatia Airlines ranked seventh in Eastern Europe during the prior awards cycle, while LOT and Wizz placed first and fourth respectively. Skytrax has not provided an explanation for the geographic reshuffle or why the new Central European table featured a limited pool of just three airlines.
This classification approach is applied inconsistently across different award sections. In the regional cabin crew rankings, Croatia Airlines remains grouped under Eastern Europe. According to the cabin crew results, Croatia Airlines was named the region’s second-best carrier behind airBaltic, while Air Serbia placed third. Meanwhile, Air Montenegro dropped out of all published rankings entirely. Air Montenegro previously placed tenth in Eastern Europe in both 2024 and 2025.
Air Serbia Maintains Regional Strength Despite Global Ranking Drop
Air Serbia maintained its footing in the broader regional categories. According to the Skytrax data, the airline was named the third-best regional carrier in Europe, sitting behind Aegean Airlines and Air Dolomiti to retain its exact position from the previous year. On a global scale, Air Serbia improved from eighteenth to seventeenth place among regional airlines.
Did you know?
Air Serbia briefly entered the global top 100 airlines list last year at number 99, but dropped out of the top 100 entirely in the latest rankings. Neither Croatia Airlines nor Air Montenegro featured in the top 100 for this edition.
At the very top of the global tables, Singapore Airlines claimed the title of the world’s best airline for the sixth time in award history, climbing from second place last year. Qatar Airways, the 2025 winner, took second place, while Cathay Pacific held steady in third. ANA All Nippon Airways and Turkish Airlines rounded out the top five. Turkish Airlines also secured the title of Europe’s best carrier, beating out Air France and Lufthansa, while oneworld was named the world’s best airline alliance.
Survey Methodology and Industry Scrutiny
The results for the awards ceremony in London relied on an online passenger survey conducted between September 2025 and August 2026. According to Skytrax, the sample covered more than 300 airlines with participation from travelers representing over 100 nationalities. Skytrax states that the awards are independent, requiring no entry fees, registration costs, sponsorship, or payments from airlines, and that survey submissions undergo screening to remove duplicate, suspect, or ineligible entries.
Despite their industry prominence, Skytrax rankings face persistent criticism over transparency. The organization does not publish detailed vote totals, airline-specific sample sizes, exact scores, or the weighting applied to individual survey categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Air Serbia perform in the Eastern Europe category?
Air Serbia was voted the second-best airline in Eastern Europe, improving from third place last year, ranking behind airBaltic and ahead of Georgian Airways, Bulgaria Air, and TAROM.
Why are direct comparisons with last year’s airline rankings difficult?
According to Skytrax data, changes to geographic classifications—such as the creation of a new Central European category—and adjustments to the number of airlines included make direct year-over-year comparisons more complex.
Which airline was named the world’s best?
Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline, moving up from second place last year to claim the title for the sixth time in the history of the awards.
Are Skytrax awards subject to entry fees or paid sponsorships?
According to Skytrax, the awards are independent and do not require any entry fees, registration costs, sponsorships, or payments from participating airlines.
What are your thoughts on the recent changes to regional airline classifications? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below, explore more aviation industry analysis on our site, or subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates straight to your inbox.
Worth a look