Air Canada Named Best Airline in North America for 2nd Consecutive Year

Air Canada has been named the Best Airline in North America at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards for the second year in a row and the 10^th time since 2010. 

The airline also moved up two spots to rank 17th among the World’s Top 100 Airlines in 2026, the only North American carrier to make top 20.

“We’re incredibly proud to be named Best Airline in North America. 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,” said Mark Nasr, EVP & Chief Operations Officer. 

“Their recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the views of the people who experience our products and services firsthand,” Nasr added. 

“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. I’m honoured to accept this recognition on their behalf and thank them for their commitment to elevating the customer experience,” 

Presented in London, UK this, the Skytrax awards, which are based on customer satisfaction surveys of millions of global travellers, also recognized once again the Toronto Air Canada Signature Suite as the World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining for the third straight year. 

Air Canada also took home additional honours for Best Cabin Crew in Canada, Best Economy On Board Catering in North America and Best Business Class Lounge in North America.

The airline says these awards recognize its leadership in the industry and its continued commitment to enhancing the travel journey, as recognized by customers worldwide. 

Enhancing the customer experience has been a priority for AC over the past several years, with new amenities and services including:

• The introduction of fast, free Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell.
• A mobile app that is an industry reference with its expanded functionality.
• Complimentary premium snacks, wine and beer on all flights.
• Additional content on its in-flight entertainment system. 

In recent years Air Canada has also invested in new and upgraded lounges, streamlined airport processes, the Aeroplan loyalty program, and seamless intermodal travel options that allow customers to book air and ground transportation on a single ticket. 

Earlier this year, the airline also introduced the next generation of its cabin design with the entry into service of the Airbus A321XLR. The Glowing Hearted design delivers a distinctly Canadian experience, emphasizing comfort, care, and connection for all customers on every flight. 

The World Airline Awards 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. 

Skytrax pays all costs of the Survey and Awards process, with no sponsorship. There is no survey entry or registration fee, and awards event is free to attend and there are no charges or royalty payments for use of the award logos and results. 

The online survey operated from September 2025 to August 2026, and more than 100 customer nationalities participated. Over 300 airlines are featured in the 2025/2026 survey results. The customer survey was offered in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.