Most of us dread the prospect of a long-haul flight in economy class, rigid seats, no privacy and little legroom. Trying to get sufficient rest always seems an impossible feat, but maybe the airlines are starting to make economy class more comfortable.
After all, we’ve seen the rise in popularity of premium economy at many airlines, so what effect is that having on economy class?
It seems that airlines are redesigning their economy class to include a little more space, wider seats and legroom. Cabins are looking more spacious and airy and there are design features that maximize space. Here we take a look at some of the most comfortable standard economy seats that come highly rated at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards.
Turkish Airlines
A vast network is a winning feature
Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline, more than 120 countries worldwide. It is convenient as passengers can fly further with just the one carrier. They offer a full-service economy cabin with complimentary meals and drinks. A baggage allowance of 30 Kilos in economy on long-haul flights is also a huge bonus.
The cabin is comfortable with wider seats, but this can also depend on the aircraft type. The newer Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 have seats with a pitch of between 30–32 inches, with more legroom and a quieter cabin overall. Each seat has a USB charger. An amenity kit is offered, providing an eye mask, socks and toothpaste/toothbrush, and meals are thoughtful and well presented.
Turkish Airlines has also been named the ‘Best Airline in Europe’ for the tenth time and the sixth ‘Best Airline in the World’ by SKYTRAX World Airline Awards in 2025. It also received awards for ‘Best Business Class Catering’ and ‘Best Economy Class in Europe’.
Hainan Airlines
Fresh and modern cabin design
Hainan Airlines is the fourth-largest airline by fleet size in the People’s Republic of China and the tenth largest airline in Asia, based on the number of passengers carried. They fly to 51 destinations in 28 countries. Hainan Airlines long-haul fleet includes the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A330.
Their new economy cabin has the ‘Bookshelf’ design with more legroom and more overhead storage space. There is a seatback screen with in-flight entertainment and complimentary meals and drinks are served. On long-haul flights, there is an amenity kit for economy passengers that includes an eye mask and slippers. This design is currently only on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Hainan Airlines Dreamliners have this more comfortable economy cabin with a seat pitch of 31–32 inches, a seven-way headrest with neck support and a 10.1 to 12-inch high-definition screen for in-flight entertainment.
STARLUX Airlines
The airline likes to exceed expectations
starlux airlines is Taiwan’s first privately owned airline, launched officially in 2020. It has a modern fleet of aircraft that includes the Airbus A321neo, the Airbus A330neo and the Airbus A350-900. They fly short-haul routes and long-haul routes including routes to North America, including Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Ontario.
The carefully designed cabins are quiet with a focus on the finer details. The new stylish economy cabin has a 3-3-3 configuration and seats with a pitch of 32-34 inches. On the Airbus A350, the seat pitch is 31″ but has a five-inch recline. There is a 13-inch 4K entertainment screen on each seatback, Wi-Fi is available, and a charging port. Seats are well cushioned and have a folding headrest for comfort. Amenities include pillows, blankets and slippers on long-haul flights.
Although the airline has quite a limited network in Asian destinations and the US, its focus on design and attention to detail cannot be faulted. STARLUX Airlines was certified a five-star airline by SKYTRAX and praised for its ‘exquisite service and utmost comfort’.
Emirates
Fly Better?
Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East and operates over 3,600 flights a week from its hub at Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The popular airline flies to 80 countries across six continents and has a fleet of over 260 aircraft, including the Airbus A380, the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A350.
Looking at the Airbus A380 economy cabin, the seats have a pitch of 34-inches and a width of 18-inches. The recline is four-inches. Although there are 399 standard economy seats in a 3-4-3 configuration, the higher ceilings give a sense of space in the cabin. The seats have a padded adjustable headrest, a 13.3-inch in-flight entertainment screen and over-the-ear headphones. Pillows, blankets and amenity kits are offered in economy on long-haul routes.
The Airbus A380 mainly operates on Dubai to US routes and is a popular aircraft with passengers. Seat size and facilities vary between aircraft on their fleet, so it is always a good idea to check the type flying your route for the most comfort.
EVA Air
The world’s best economy class catering
EVA Air is one of the three largest airlines in Taiwan and operates to 58 destinations. They have a fleet of 87 aircraft including the Airbus A330, Airbus A321, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. Interestingly, they were the first airline to introduce a premium economy cabin.
Their economy cabin on the Boeing 777-300ER and the A330-300 has well-organized ergonomic seating with shape-memory cushions. The seat pan moves forward when reclining into a natural, comfortable position. The headrests are adjustable to eliminate fatigue and there are seatback screens for in-flight entertainment. There is also Wi-Fi and in-seat charging ports. It is worth noting that not all aircraft have the new seating at this time, so it is a good idea to check, when booking. On the 777-300ER, the economy cabin has 221 seats, in a 3-4-3 configuration.
EVA Air was one of the first airlines to achieve five-star certification by SKYTRAX and has held the position for the tenth year running. They are known for their friendly service and high standards. This year they also won an award for the ‘World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering’.
Japan Airlines
The world’s best economy class airline seat
Japan Airlines is the second-largest airline in Japan, behind All Nippon Airways (ANA) but is often seen to be the flag carrier airline due to its history. The airline has a fleet of 150 aircraft over five variants with a further 84 aircraft on order. In terms of long-haul fleet, they operate the Airbus A350-900/1000, Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 777-300ER, and the Boeing 787-8/9.
Their economy seat is larger than average, with a width of between 17.7–18.8 inches between armrests and a pitch of 33-34 inches. They have a slim seatback with 10.6-inch monitors, equipped for their MAGIC entertainment system. The ‘Sky Wider’ seat has more legroom than other economy classes. Wi-Fi and power outlets are available on the newer aircraft types. On the Boeing 787, the configuration is 2-4-2 instead of the usual nine seats across. Chef-curated meals and amenity kits are also supplied.
Japan Airlines has been awarded the ‘World’s Best Economy Class’ three times by the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards. The airline also won the ‘Best Economy Class Airline Seat’ this year and is leading the way, with its larger, more comfortable ‘Sky Wider’ seat.
All Nippon Airways
The inspiration of Japan
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the largest airline in Japan, rivalling Japan Airlines and has a fleet of 216 aircraft that includes many variants including the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787-8/9/10 Dreamliner. They fly to 92 destinations and operate both domestic and international routes. ANA was the launch customer for the Dreamliner and has some equipped with a domestic configuration as well as an international configuration.
The quiet, comfortable cabins of the Airbus A380 and the Dreamliners have a seat pitch of 34 inches and a 17.3-inch width. The seats have a few inches of recline, and the seat pan slides forward, so it doesn’t intrude into the space of the passenger behind. There is plenty of legroom as well as a footrest, a universal power outlet and a USB port. Seats are in a configuration of 3-3-3 and have thick cushioning and adjustable headrests.
Two complimentary Western and Western meals are offered on long-haul flights, as well as drinks and there is a self-service snack center. Amenities available include blankets and pillows. The in-flight entertainment system has a varied selection of audio and video content on a 10.6-inch monitor. ANA’s economy class was ranked the fourth best globally by SKYTRAX in 2025, having been sixth the previous year.
Singapore Airlines
A five-star, award-winning airline
Singapore Airlines is the flag carrier for Singapore and based at Changi Airport. The airline operates a variety of aircraft types on short-haul and long-haul routes, including the Airbus A380, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER and the Boeing 787-10. They have a fleet of 157 aircraft, with eight on order, according to planespotters.net.
On the Airbus A350, A380 and Boeing 787, the cabin is spacious and seats come with a 32-inch seat pitch, a width of 19 inches, and a recline of six inches. Each seat has a soft, six-way headrest for comfort. The configuration is 3-4-3 and seats have a USB port, phone storage and a monitor for in-flight entertainment. Mood lighting creates a relaxing environment and helps reduce fatigue. Wi-Fi is available onboard.
Singapore Airlines is considered a five-star airline and was named the world’s best airline five times. It is also known for its ‘Singapore girl’ image and the cabin crew and service are known as some of the best in the world. The airline has also won awards for ‘Best Airline’ and ‘Best First Class’ previously and has always been seen as a prestigious airline.
Qatar Airways
Second in place and top-notch service
Qatar Airways is based at Hamad International Airport in Doha. The airline has 232 aircraft and 15 on order, according to data at planespotters.net. Variants include the Airbus A320, A330, A350XWB and A380 as well as the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner. The average age of the aircraft is just 10.3 years, making it a relatively young fleet. The airline flies to over 170 destinations.
The economy cabin has comfortable ergonomic seating with slim cushioned seats and more legroom. The seat pitch is between 31 and 33 inches and a width of 17.5–18.5 inches, depending on the aircraft type. The seats can recline up to 5 inches and have adjustable headrests, USB ports and individual touchscreen monitors for their Oryx One entertainment system. The configuration is 3-3-3 or 3-4-3, depending on the aircraft type. Meals and drinks are complimentary, and amenities include pillows and blankets.
It is perhaps unsurprising to see Qatar Airways in the top two best economy airlines in the world, as they have a reputation for having excellent service and cabin crew, as well as being an innovative and modern airline. They have been named the World’s Best Airline multiple times and is considered to be a five-star airline.
Cathay Pacific
The World’s Best Economy Class Airline
Cathay Pacific is the ‘flag carrier’ airline of Hong Kong. They fly to 60 countries and have more than 190 destinations on their schedule. They operate a fleet of Airbus A321neo, Airbus A330, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline flies to gateway cities across Asia, Europe, and North America.
The Airbus A350-1000 economy class seats have a width of 18″, a pitch of 32″, and a six-inch recline. These seats are in a 3-3-3 configuration and feature personal USB ports, adjustable leather headrests and a shelf for devices. The cabin is quiet and comfortable, yet efficient for working and uses ergonomic seats with extra cushioning. It has a high-resolution entertainment system which can also be used in dark mode. The new contemporary design is being introduced across the fleet and offers a modern living space for passengers.
SKYTRAX awarded Cathay Pacific with the title of the ‘World’s Best Economy Class Airline in 2025. It has five-star certification from the company and has won the award four times. This year, it was ranked the third-best airline in the world.
