Air Canada Named Best Airline in North America for Second Consecutive Year

Air Canada has been named the Best Airline in North America for the second consecutive year at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, marking the tenth time the airline has received this honour since 2010. The recognition, presented in London, UK, underscores Air Canada’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its leadership in the aviation industry.

The airline also won the World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining for the Air Canada Signature Suite in Toronto for the third consecutive year. Additionally, Air Canada was awarded Best Cabin Crew in Canada and Best Economy On Board Catering in North America. These accolades reflect the airline’s dedication to enhancing every stage of the travel journey, as recognized by millions of global travellers.

Air Canada’s ranking improved by two spots, placing it 17th among the World’s Top 100 Airlines in 2026. It is the only North American carrier to make the top 20. “On behalf of 40,000 Air Canada coworkers around the world, we thank our customers for their trust, loyalty, and for choosing to fly with us. Their recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the views of the people who experience our products and services firsthand. This award belongs to our people, whose professionalism, dedication, and genuine care for our customers make moments of exceptional hospitality possible across our global network.”

Air Canada’s achievements are a testament to its ongoing efforts to improve the customer experience. The airline has introduced several initiatives, including fast, free Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell, a mobile app that serves as an industry reference, complimentary premium snacks, wine, and beer on all flights, and an expanded in-flight entertainment system. The airline has also invested in new and upgraded lounges, streamlined airport processes, and its award-winning Aeroplan loyalty program.

Air Canada’s latest generation of cabin design, the Glowing Hearted design, was introduced with the entry into service of the Airbus A321XLR. This design delivers a distinctly Canadian experience, emphasizing comfort, care, and connection for all customers on every flight. The Glowing Hearted design is part of Air Canada’s broader commitment to sustainability, with a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Air Canada operates directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States, and internationally on six continents. Its Aeroplan program, Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, boasts more than 10 million members worldwide. Members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of more than 50 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel, and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, the airline offers a selection of vacation and Flight & Hotel packages, tours, cruises, car rentals, and experiences. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger and freighter aircraft.

The Skytrax World Airline Awards, which are wholly independent and impartial, were introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that is truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners. The awards are referred to by media around the world as “the Oscars of the aviation industry.” The online survey operated from September 2025 to August 2026, and more than 100 customer nationalities participated. All survey entries were screened to identify IP and user information, with duplicate, suspect, and ineligible entries deleted. Over 300 airlines are featured in the 2025/2026 survey results.