- Austrian Airlines once again receives international recognition for outstanding hospitality and service quality at the prestigious SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2026
- Ranked No. 1 in the “Best Cabin Crew in Europe” category
- The only European airline to rank among the world’s Top 20 cabin crews
- Also ranked No. 1 for “Best Cabin Crew in Western Europe” and No. 2 for “Best Airline Staff in Europe”
- CEO Annette Mann: “These awards show that our guests experience the warmth and hospitality that Austrian Airlines is known for around the world. They are a testament to the dedication of our employees, who work together every day to create a positive travel experience.”
Austrian Airlines has once again received multiple accolades at the prestigious SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2026. The Austrian flag carrier was named “Best Cabin Crew in Europe” and “Best Cabin Crew in Western Europe”, receiving international recognition for its outstanding hospitality and service quality. In the “Best Airline Staff in Europe” category, Austrian Airlines ranked second this year. In addition, Austrian Airlines is the only European airline to rank among the world’s Top 20 cabin crews, placing 19th in the global ranking. The awards are based on the feedback of millions of passengers worldwide and are regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades in the aviation industry.
The awards recognize Austrian Airlines’ distinctive service culture, which guests experience every day. At its heart are warmth, professionalism and the airline’s characteristic Austrian hospitality.
“We are very proud of these awards. They show that our guests experience the warmth and hospitality that Austrian Airlines is known for around the world. They are a testament to the dedication of our employees, who work together every day to create a positive travel experience,” said Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann.
Austrian Airlines COO Stefan-Kenan Scheib also emphasized the significance of the awards for the company as a whole:
“Hospitality does not begin on board. It starts long before boarding and extends throughout the entire travel journey. These awards therefore also recognize the seamless collaboration of many teams who, day in and day out, deliver their best with great reliability and commitment, ensuring that our guests feel welcome at Austrian Airlines.”
The SKYTRAX World Airline Awards
The SKYTRAX World Airline Awards are regarded worldwide as a benchmark for excellence in the airline industry and are often referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry.” The awards are based on the results of the world’s largest annual passenger survey in the aviation sector, conducted by market research organization SKYTRAX since 1999 to measure customer satisfaction.
Passengers from more than 100 countries participated in this year’s survey, with more than 325 airlines worldwide being evaluated. The winners were announced in London on September 18, 2026. Full details of this year’s SKYTRAX World Airline Awards can be found at www.worldairlineawards.com.
Austrian Airlines has received numerous accolades in different categories at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards in previous years. The airline has traditionally performed particularly strongly in the areas of service, cabin crew and catering. Austrian Airlines has already been named “Best Airline Staff in Europe” eight times. It has also received awards for “Best Airline in Western Europe,” “Best Premium Economy Dining,” and three times for “Best Business Class Dining.” Austrian Airlines has also been named “Best Cabin Crew in Europe” several times, most recently in 2023 and 2025.