Every year, millions of travelers cast their votes in the Skytrax World Airline Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry.” In 2025, the spotlight fell on Cathay Pacific Airways, which was crowned the World’s Best Economy Class Airline. This recognition is more than just a trophy; it reflects the evolving expectations of passengers and the fierce competition among global carriers to deliver comfort, value, and service in the most widely used cabin class.
Economy class remains the backbone of commercial aviation, carrying the vast majority of passengers worldwide. While premium cabins often grab headlines, it is economy class that defines the travel experience for most flyers. Winning the title of “World’s Best Economy Class” is therefore a powerful endorsement of an airline’s ability to balance affordability with comfort and service. In this guide, we’ll explore why Cathay Pacific took the top spot in 2025, how it compares with rivals, and what this means for the future of economy travel.
Cathay Pacific’s Triumph At The 2025 Skytrax Awards
Cathay Pacific’s win at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards was a defining moment for the Hong Kong-based carrier. The airline not only secured the title of World’s Best Economy Class Airline but also won World’s Best Inflight Entertainment, underscoring its holistic approach to passenger experience.
The recognition comes after years of investment. Cathay has committed over HK$100 billion to upgrading its fleet, cabins, and digital services. In 2024, it introduced refreshed economy cabins on its Boeing 777 300ERs, featuring redesigned seats, improved in-flight entertainment, and enhanced catering partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs.
Beyond the accolades, Cathay’s win highlights the airline’s strategy of positioning itself as a premium service brand while still catering to the mass market. This balance is increasingly important as airlines worldwide grapple with rising costs and shifting passenger expectations.
How The Rankings Were Decided
The Skytrax World Airline Awards are often described as the “Oscars of aviation,” and for good reason. Each year, millions of passengers from more than 100 countries rate their flying experiences, creating the world’s largest independent airline satisfaction survey.
In 2025, more than 20 million travelers participated, evaluating airlines across seven main performance areas, each containing multiple sub-criteria. Key categories included seat comfort, onboard catering, cleanliness, inflight entertainment, and value for money. The 2025 survey covered over 20 million entries from travelers representing 100+ nationalities, collected between September 2024 and May 2025.
At this year’s ceremony, Cathay Pacific Airways earned the title of World’s Best Economy Class Airline, praised for its refined cabin experience, entertainment system, and attentive crew service. Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines followed closely, recognized for blending comfort and reliability with global reach.
These top three airlines shared a common theme: investment in thoughtful details. From the 32-inch (81-centimeter) seat pitch offered on Cathay’s Airbus A350-900 to Singapore’s integration of premium economy-style features in long-haul cabins, passengers consistently rated them highly for ergonomics and in-flight ambiance.
Skytrax also honors airlines for excellence in specific areas. Japan Airlines (JAL) won the award for Best Economy Class Airline Seat, a reflection of the airline’s spacious 33-inch (84-centimeter) pitch and generous recline across its international Boeing 787 fleet. Meanwhile, EVA Air once again took home Best Economy Class Onboard Catering, recognized for its well-balanced meal service, fresh presentation, and regional flavor variety.
These recognitions show how the definition of “economy comfort” continues to evolve. What used to mean a simple meal and a basic seatback screen has transformed into a product shaped by culinary identity, cultural hospitality, and digital engagement.
The following table shows 2025 World’s Best Economy Class Airlines:
|
Rank |
Airline |
Notable Strength |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Overall, the best economy class and exceptional inflight entertainment |
|
|
2 |
Service excellence and Middle East leadership in passenger comfort |
|
|
3 |
Renowned consistency and seamless premium economy integration |
|
|
4 |
Japanese hospitality and operational reliability |
|
|
5 |
Widely regarded as one of the world’s best economy class seats |
|
|
6 |
Industry-leading catering quality in long-haul economy |
|
|
7 |
Extensive global network and award-winning ICE entertainment system |
|
|
8 |
Rising premium contender in Asia with modern cabin design |
|
|
9 |
Top-rated Chinese carrier for service and comfort |
|
|
10 |
Europe’s best economy class, known for generous meals and service |
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Emirates
Turkish AirlinesEight of the top ten positions went to Asia-Pacific carriers, reflecting the region’s strong focus on hospitality and cabin quality. Asian airlines tend to emphasize soft-service elements, such as crew attentiveness and food presentation, alongside high hardware standards. This cultural commitment to hospitality helps them outperform competitors, especially on long-haul and connecting routes.
What Makes Cathay Pacific’s Economy Class Stand Out?
Cathay Pacific’s economy class success is built on several pillars.
- Seat design: The refreshed economy cabins feature slimline seats with improved cushioning, adjustable headrests, and more ergonomic support. Seat pitch averages 32 inches, with a width of 18.5 inches, placing Cathay above many competitors.
- Catering: Cathay has partnered with Michelin-starred restaurants to curate menus even in economy class. Passengers can enjoy refined Cantonese dishes alongside international favorites, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and healthier options.
- Entertainment: Cathay offers one of the largest in-flight entertainment libraries in Asia Pacific, with 4K HDR content, Disney+ titles, and exclusive Asian cinema. Every seat has a personal screen, and WiFi is available across the fleet.
- Service culture: Cathay’s cabin crew are consistently praised for professionalism and attentiveness, blending hospitality and respect intertwined with the local culture with international high service standards.
Together, these elements create an economy-class experience that feels closer to premium economy on some other carriers.
Regional Perspectives: How Economy Class Differs Worldwide
Economy class standards vary significantly depending on the region of the world, and this context helps explain why Asia Pacific carriers dominate the Skytrax rankings. In Asia Pacific, airlines like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, ANA, and Singapore Airlines have long prioritized service culture and cabin comfort. Seat pitch is often more generous, catering reflects local culinary traditions, and crew training emphasizes hospitality. This is why passengers consistently rate Asian carriers higher in economy class satisfaction surveys.
In North America, the story is more mixed. US carriers such as Delta, United, and American have invested heavily in premium cabins, but economy class often lags behind in terms of seat comfort and catering. According to Condé Nast Traveler and USA Today, US airlines are improving. Delta, for example, has enhanced inflight entertainment and introduced free WiFi, but seat pitch often remains at 30–31 inches, below the Asian average.
In Europe, legacy carriers like 
Lufthansa , Air France , and 
British Airways offer solid but not standout economy products. Turkish Airlines is an exception, consistently ranking in the global top 10 thanks to its catering and service. That is probably due to the fact that Turkey is not only a geographical, but a cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, and Turkish Airlines managed to combine the best of two worlds. Low-cost carriers dominate much of the European market, which pulls down average economy standards.
|
Region |
Typical Seat Pitch |
Service Strengths |
Common Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Asia-Pacific |
32–34 inches (81–86 centimeters) |
Exceptional hospitality, catering quality, and in-flight entertainment |
Slightly higher fares on some routes |
|
North America |
30–31 inches (76–79 centimeters) |
Strong connectivity, widespread WiFi access, and large route networks |
Tighter seating and inconsistent catering standards |
|
Europe |
31–32 inches (79–81 centimeters) |
Reliable flag carriers and excellent catering on Turkish Airlines and select legacy brands |
Low-cost carrier dominance and uneven service quality |
|
Middle East |
31–32 inches (79–81 centimeters) |
Renowned full-service standards from Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad |
Economy experience can feel secondary to premium offerings. |
|
Latin America |
30–31 inches (76–79 centimeters) |
Rapidly modernizing fleets and improved onboard service |
Limited in-flight entertainment and older aircraft on some routes |
This global perspective shows why Cathay Pacific’s win resonates: it reflects not just excellence within Asia, but a standard that many other regions are still striving to match.
The Future Of Economy Class
Looking ahead, the future of the economy class is being shaped by several trends. First, technology: Airlines are investing in next-generation in-flight entertainment systems with 4K screens, Bluetooth audio pairing, and expanded WiFi coverage. Cathay Pacific’s win in 2025 reflects this trend, as its entertainment system is among the most advanced in the world.
Second, sustainability: Airlines are under pressure to reduce emissions, and this affects economy class through lighter seats, more efficient catering, and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Passengers are increasingly aware of environmental issues, and airlines that can combine comfort with sustainability will have an edge.
Third, premiumization: The rise of “premium leisure” travel means airlines are segmenting cabins more finely. Some carriers are shrinking the economy class to make room for premium economy and business, while others, like Cathay, are doubling down on making the economy class itself more attractive.
The challenge for airlines will be to balance cost pressures with passenger expectations. Those that succeed, as Cathay has in 2025, will win both awards and loyalty.
Why Cathay Pacific’s Win Matters
Cathay Pacific’s recognition as the World’s Best Economy Class Airline in 2025 is more than just a marketing victory. It reflects years of investment in cabins, catering, and service, as well as a commitment to treating economy passengers as valued customers rather than afterthoughts.
For travelers, the award is a reminder that economy class does not have to mean compromise. With airlines like Cathay, JAL, and Singapore Airlines setting the bar, passengers can expect comfort, entertainment, and service that make long-haul flights genuinely enjoyable.
For the industry, the award underscores the importance of economy class as the foundation of commercial aviation. Even as premium cabins expand, it is economy that carries the majority of passengers and defines an airline’s reputation.
As we look to the future, the lessons of 2025 are clear: airlines that invest in economy class will not only win awards but also secure the loyalty of millions of travelers worldwide.
