Aviation: Report shows Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius & RwandAir Leads Top Africa-based airlines on Skytrax 2025 rankings while FlySafair and LIFT top low-cost airline list

At the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, FlySafair and Lift were named the top two low-cost airlines in Africa, showing that reliable service and comfortable travel can still come at an affordable price.

According to timeout, meanwhile, SAA climbed two spots to rank #67 globally, continuing its slow but steady comeback to international relevance. Whether you’re jetting to Joburg or heading abroad, Cape Town International continues to be a launchpad for some of Africa’s top airlines in the skies.

READ: Aviation: East African Carrier, Ethiopian Airlines to Enhance Regional Operations with Two Twin Otter 300-G Aircraft Orders from De Havilland Canada

Here’s how Skytrax stacked them all up in its Top 100 airlines for 2025

Africa-Based Airlines in the Skytrax Top 100 for 2025

1. Ethiopian Airlines – Ethiopia (38 in 2025, 35 in 2024
2. Air Mauritius – Mauritius (63 in 2025, 85 in 2024)
3. RwandAir – Rwanda (64 in 2025, 81 in 2024)
4. South African Airways – South Africa (67 in 2025, 69 in 2024)
5. Egyptair – Egypt (68 in 2025, 88 in 2024)
6. Royal Air Maroc – Morocco (70 in 2025, 55 in 2024)
7. Kenya Airways – Kenya (89 in 2025, 77 in 2024)

Skytrax Top 10 Airlines – 2025
The top 10 airlines in the world, according to Skytrax, predominantly hail from Asia and the Middle East, showcasing the rise of premium service hubs such as Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates, in comparison to traditional legacy carriers in Europe and the Americas.

1. Qatar Airways – Qatar (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024)
2. Singapore Airlines – Singapore (2 in 2025, 2 in 2024)
3. Cathay Pacific Airways – Hong Kong (3 in 2025, 5 in 2024)
4. Emirates – United Arab Emirates (4 in 2025, 3 in 2024)
5. ANA (All Nippon Airways) – Japan (5 in 2025, 4 in 2024)
6. Turkish Airlines – Turkey (6 in 2025, 7 in 2024)
7. Korean Air – South Korea (7 in 2025, 11 in 2024)
8. Air France – France (8 in 2025, 9 in 2024)
9. Japan Airlines – Japan (9 in 2025, 6 in 2024)
10. Hainan Airlines – China (10 in 2025, 12 in 2024)

Best Low-Cost Airlines in Africa – 2025
Africa’s top low-cost carriers are making regional travel more accessible than ever, led by firm local favourites FlySafair and LIFT, according to the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards.

1. FlySafair – South Africa
2. LIFT – South Africa
3. Fastjet – Zimbabwe
4. Jambojet – Kenya
5. fly540 – Kenya

Cape Town’s skyward ambitions show no signs of slowing. As new routes from Windhoek to Mauritius roll out, the city edges closer to becoming one of Africa’s most connected hubs. And with global leaders like Qatar Airways, Singapore and Ethiopian Airlines among the carriers touching down, the bar for quality and reliability rises.