On a new ranking of the world's airlines, U.S.-based carriers failed to make the top 10, probably because U.S.–based carriers are mediocre to terrible.
The list was released by AirHelp, a service that assists passengers in seeking compensation for flight cancellations, delays, and other headaches in commercial aviation.
To come up with its 2025 ranking of airlines, AirHelp's analysts scored 117 carriers from around the world based on their on-time performance, customer opinion surveys, and claim-processing record (accounting for how efficiently the airline handles complaints and how likely it is to pay out compensation).
Middle Eastern airlines performed best on those criteria, with Qatar Airways landing at the top of AirHelp's ranking, followed by Etihad Airways in second place.
Several European carriers fared well, too. The U.K.'s Virgin Atlantic took the bronze, while KM Malta Airlines scored fifth.
U.S. airlines, meanwhile, managed a meh at best. They couldn't even secure the top North American spot—that went to Aeromexico in sixth place.
You have to go to the second page of results at AirHelp's website to find the highest-ranking U.S. carrier, American Airlines at #11. Even it slid seven places from its fourth-place finish in 2024.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines earned similarly middling scores to place 13th and 15th, respectively.
USA Today reports that both "had better on-time performance and customer opinion, but American beat them out in the claim processing category."
Surprising no one, Spirit Airlines performed abysmally on the ranking, coming in at #115 out of 117. Even last year's worst airline, Tunisair, managed to beat Spirit in 2025.
It doesn't look like U.S. airlines will improve their standing anytime soon, either. Earlier this month the Trump administration formally withdrew President Biden's plan to make airlines pay passengers for flight disruptions—a proposed rule airlines fought hard.
Apparently, passenger rights are for people who are overseas.
The world's 10 best airlines in 2025, according to AirHelp
- Qatar Airways
- Etihad Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- Qantas
- KM Malta Airlines
- Aeromexico
- Oman Air
- Saudia
- Brussels Airlines
- LOT Polish Airlines
AirHelp's 2025 ranking of U.S. airlines
- American Airlines: #11 overall
- United Airlines: #13
- Delta Air Lines: #15
- Frontier Airlines: #36
- Hawaiian Airlines: #50
- Southwest Airlines: #52
- Alaska Airlines: #76
- JetBlue: #89
- Breeze Airways: #101
- Allegiant Air: #102
- Spirit Airlines: #115
To see the full global ranking as well as breakdowns by region, go to AirHelp.com.