EgyptAir has had a very good year. At the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, Egypt's national carrier picked up the title of World's Most Improved Airline and jumped 23 places in the global rankings, landing at 46th out of the world's top 100 airlines — up from 69th the previous year. That puts it in the same neighbourhood as United Airlines (45th) and just ahead of Iberia Express (47th).
The Most Improved award reflects overall progress across Skytrax's awards programme, factoring in ranking gains and performance across multiple categories. And EgyptAir didn't stop there. It also took home three regional honours: Best Cabin Crew in Africa, Most Improved Airline in Africa, and Best Economy Class in Africa. In the continental rankings, it now sits second among Africa's best airlines, behind only Ethiopian Airlines.
There's a clear upward trajectory here. In the 2025 edition of the awards, EgyptAir was named Most Improved Airline in Africa and ranked just fifth on the continent — so a jump to second place in twelve months is a significant leap. The news drew attention at the highest level: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi publicly congratulated Egypt's civil aviation sector and the airline on 18 September, calling the recognition an achievement for the national carrier and crediting efforts to raise efficiency and service standards across the sector.
For context on the wider awards: Singapore Airlines was named the world's best airline for 2026, with Qatar Airways second and Cathay Pacific third — the usual heavyweight trio at the top of the Skytrax table.
So why should travellers care? Skytrax rankings are based on passenger surveys, which makes them a decent proxy for what you'll actually experience on board. If you've been defaulting to the big Gulf or European carriers for flights to Cairo, EgyptAir is now a credible option worth pricing — particularly if you value cabin crew service and a solid economy product. Flying the national carrier into Cairo also makes connections smoother if you're continuing on to Luxor, Aswan or a Red Sea resort, and it's often the most direct way in from African and Middle Eastern hubs. The awards suggest the upgrade is more than cosmetic, too: improvements to economy seating and onboard service are exactly the things that matter most on a long-haul flight.
Worth keeping in mind that 'most improved' isn't the same as 'best in the world' — at 46th, EgyptAir still trails the elite carriers. But if the trend continues, the gap is narrowing fast, and for anyone planning a trip to Egypt in the coming year, the national airline is having a moment worth considering.
