Qantas Airlines rises to 14th position in global airline rankings 2025
Qantas has climbed back into the top tier of global airlines, securing the 14th spot in the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This marks a major recovery from its 24th-place finish in 2024, its lowest-ever ranking, following public backlash over a string of controversies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Skytrax rankings are based on surveys from passengers across more than 100 nationalities. Qatar Airways retained the top position globally for the second consecutive year, followed by Singapore Airlines in second place and Cathay Pacific in third. Emirates, Qantas’s international partner, came in fourth.
Virgin Australia, Qantas’s main domestic competitor, stands to gain from Qatar Airways’ strong performance through a new code-sharing agreement, offering Australian travellers more routes to the Middle East and beyond.
As per a report by The Guardian, Qantas has been working to rebuild its reputation after several scandals. These include the illegal sacking of 1,800 ground staff, resulting in a $120 million compensation payout, and a $100 million penalty for allegedly selling tickets on cancelled flights. Former CEO Alan Joyce stepped down in 2024, and the board slashed his final pay by over $9 million after an internal governance review.
According to Dr Andrew Hughes of the Australian National University, Qantas’s rebound reflects its investment in a customer experience overhaul, which may have cost nearly $1 billion. These upgrades include improved boarding processes, fleet renewal, and lounge refurbishments.
“Qantas’s experience offering is still stronger than Virgin’s,” Hughes said, though he noted Virgin is expected to become more competitive in coming years with its new international partnerships.
He added that while Qantas’s loyalty program changes, such as increasing points required for Classic Reward flights-may frustrate some customers, the airline appears to be on track in regaining public trust.
The Skytrax rankings are based on surveys from passengers across more than 100 nationalities. Qatar Airways retained the top position globally for the second consecutive year, followed by Singapore Airlines in second place and Cathay Pacific in third. Emirates, Qantas’s international partner, came in fourth.
Virgin Australia, Qantas’s main domestic competitor, stands to gain from Qatar Airways’ strong performance through a new code-sharing agreement, offering Australian travellers more routes to the Middle East and beyond.
As per a report by The Guardian, Qantas has been working to rebuild its reputation after several scandals. These include the illegal sacking of 1,800 ground staff, resulting in a $120 million compensation payout, and a $100 million penalty for allegedly selling tickets on cancelled flights. Former CEO Alan Joyce stepped down in 2024, and the board slashed his final pay by over $9 million after an internal governance review.
According to Dr Andrew Hughes of the Australian National University, Qantas’s rebound reflects its investment in a customer experience overhaul, which may have cost nearly $1 billion. These upgrades include improved boarding processes, fleet renewal, and lounge refurbishments.
“Qantas’s experience offering is still stronger than Virgin’s,” Hughes said, though he noted Virgin is expected to become more competitive in coming years with its new international partnerships.
He added that while Qantas’s loyalty program changes, such as increasing points required for Classic Reward flights-may frustrate some customers, the airline appears to be on track in regaining public trust.
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