Japan's two biggest airlines have once again put the country on the aviation map, with ANA and Japan Airlines both making the top 10 in the 2026 World Airline Awards.
The awards, run by aviation rating organization Skytrax, are based on a global passenger survey covering airlines around the world. The World Airline Awards are determined by passenger feedback across a range of aspects of the airline experience, making them a useful snapshot of how travelers rate the airlines they fly.
For travelers, a good airline is about more than simply getting from A to B. Reliability and safety are obviously important, but the experience also comes down to things like how comfortable the seats are, the quality of meals and entertainment, cleanliness, cabin crew service, airport assistance, and how smoothly things work when you're checking in, transferring, or dealing with a problem. Those everyday details can make a surprisingly big difference on a long-haul flight.
ANA ranked fourth in the 2026 global list, moving up from fifth in 2025, while JAL came ninth, the same position it held in 2025.
It's hardly a one-off for either airline. ANA has had a particularly long relationship with the World Airline Awards, picking up World's Best Airport Services and Staff Service Excellence, Asia, in 2011 and continuing to receive recognition across categories including airport services, staff, cleanliness, and catering. In 2026, it once again took the World's Best Airport Services award.
JAL has also built up an impressive collection of Skytrax awards, particularly for its economy-class experience. It won World's Best Economy Class and Best Economy Class Airline Seat in 2019, and its economy-class seat was again recognized in 2025.
For anyone flying to or around Japan, the continued appearance of both airlines near the top of this passenger-voted list is a useful reminder that the Japanese flying experience extends well beyond the aircraft itself.
