August M
Booking a holiday usually involves a lot of tricky decisions. While price is often the biggest factor for travellers, the actual flight experience can easily make or break a trip.
Now, a fresh set of global passenger ratings has revealed exactly which airlines deliver the goods, UNILAD reports.
Winning the sky
The APEX Best Awards for 2026 were recently announced. According to UNILAD, the awards recognize carriers that excel in areas like “seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment and Wi-Fi”.
The results cover everything from regional carriers to massive international fleets. For passengers heading off this summer, the list offers a handy guide to the best service.
Global champions
Middle Eastern carriers took home several major prizes. Emirates won the global award for best inflight entertainment, while Qatar Airways secured the top spot for food.
Asian airlines showed strong results too. Korean Air won the global award for cabin service, and Eva Air took the prize for seat comfort.
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines scored a major victory by winning the global award for the best wireless connection. According to UNILAD, this makes Delta the only American carrier to land a worldwide win.
The North American picture
Looking closer to home, the North American results showed a clear split. JetBlue Airways enjoyed a massive night by securing two separate awards, as passengers voted it the best for seat comfort and food.
Delta added to its global success by winning the North American prize for best entertainment. Hawaiian Airlines scooped up the award for the region’s best wireless connection. Southwest Airlines won the local low-cost category.
One major name was completely missing. American Airlines failed to pick up a single award, repeating its empty-handed result from last year.
Changing travel plans
Despite the promise of award-winning service, many travellers are currently rethinking their summer getaways. Across the country, high jet fuel costs and expensive gas prices are forcing families to adjust their budgets.
A recent survey by US News and World Report highlighted the scale of the problem. It revealed that 65% of Americans have already altered their travel plans this summer due to rising costs. Some might simply stay home.
Here is the link to the 2026 APEX Best™ Award winners
Sources: UNILAD, US News and World Report
