Thai Airways International has been named the world's 10th-best international airline in Travel + Leisure's World’s Best Awards 2026, placing Thailand's national carrier among the global top 10 after years of business rehabilitation.
Taiwan's EVA Air took first place for the first time in the publication's history, ahead of Qatar Airways and Emirates in second and third. EVA Air received a reader-survey score of 91.63.
For foreigners living in Thailand or using Bangkok as a regional travel base, the result is a positive indicator for those considering Thai Airways on long-haul international journeys. The ranking is based on passenger views of comfort, service and value, rather than being a measure of fares, punctuality or individual route performance.
More than 207,000 readers took part
Travel + Leisure said more than 207,000 readers worldwide submitted over 661,000 votes across travel-brand categories. Airlines were assessed on cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and overall value.
The complete top 10 was:
EVA Air - Taiwan
Qatar Airways - Qatar
Emirates - United Arab Emirates
La Compagnie - France
Singapore Airlines - Singapore
Japan Airlines (JAL) - Japan
Korean Air - South Korea
Virgin Atlantic Airways - United Kingdom
Etihad Airways - United Arab Emirates
Thai Airways International - Thailand
Rehabilitation programme cited
Thai Airways chief executive Chai Eamsiri described the top-10 position as a positive signal after the carrier's sustained rehabilitation programme.
The airline has spent recent years upgrading its fleet, raising in-flight service standards, developing passenger lounges, revising food and beverage menus, and expanding its international route network. The result reflects a measurable recovery in international passenger confidence since Thai Airways entered and subsequently completed its business reorganisation process.
EVA Air praised for business class
Travel + Leisure cited EVA Air's business-class service and its extensive Asian connections as the main reasons for its number-one ranking. Its fourth-generation Premium Economy Class, introduced in 2025, also received strong passenger feedback during the survey period.
Industry analysts said the 2026 results show that price is no longer passengers' only consideration. Seat comfort, food, cabin crew service, in-flight entertainment and punctuality increasingly influence decisions, especially on long-haul routes where travellers spend many more hours onboard than on domestic flights.
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29 August 2026
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