Seoul, April 30, 2026. Korean Air has been awarded a 5-star airline rating by Skytrax for the sixth consecutive time as part of the “World Airline Star Rating 2026”.

Skytrax, founded in 1989, is a global aviation consulting firm headquartered in London that evaluates airlines based on comprehensive service standards. Since 1999, the “World Airline Star Rating” has assessed the quality of airlines on a scale of one to five stars. Currently, only ten airlines worldwide – including Korean Air – hold the highest five-star accolade. 

The 2026 rating followed a detailed Skytrax audit, which began in January 2026. The audit team evaluated a wide range of Korean Air’s long-haul and regional routes to assess more than 550 product and service elements. The review covered the entire passenger journey, including check-in, transfers, lounge, onboard catering, amenities, cabin service, in-flight entertainment (IFE), and seating.

Korean Air received excellent ratings for its website functionality, passenger and transport systems, in-flight service, and in-flight entertainment program. The evaluation particularly highlighted the outstanding catering, praising the superior quality, ingredient sourcing, and presentation of meals across all travel classes – standards that were particularly outstanding on flights departing from the airline’s Seoul-Incheon hub.

The cabin crew was also commended for its consistently high service quality. Across all cabins, Korean Air’s staff maintained a distinct hospitality, combining traditional courtesy with modern operational efficiency.

Compared to the previous year, the airline saw significant improvements in lounge ratings. This is due to the completion of a 41-month project to establish seven next-generation lounges at Incheon International Airport, which concluded with the opening of the First Class and Prestige Class West lounges.

Korean Air is also modernizing its lounges worldwide. For example, a renovated flagship lounge at Los Angeles International Airport was unveiled in March, and a modernized lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is scheduled to open later this year.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, stated: “The award of the highest 5-star rating to Korean Air for 2026 confirms the airline’s consistent focus on delivering a high-quality flight experience for its passengers. This accolade clearly demonstrates that Korean Air excels in key areas such as cabin comfort, catering, and service, both onboard and on every single flight.”

A Korean Air representative added: “Korean Air remains committed to enhancing service quality through a consistent focus on customer satisfaction and excellent service. Through strategic investments and continuous innovation, we will continue to provide a first-class travel experience that exceeds the expectations of our passengers worldwide.”

The latest Skytrax award joins a series of industry accolades Korean Air has received this year. Earlier this month, the airline secured 13 awards at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) 2026 in Hamburg. Last year, Korean Air was named “Airline of the Year 2025” by Airlineratings.com and “Asia Airline of the Year” by CAPA.

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About Korean Air
Operating globally for over 55 years, Korean Air is one of the world's top 20 airlines, carrying more than 25 million passengers in 2025. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 116 cities in 39 countries across five continents with a modern fleet of 167 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.

Korean Air's outstanding performance and commitment to the highest level of safety and customer service are widely recognized. The airline has been honored with numerous awards, including a 5-star rating from Skytrax and the “Airline of the Year” award from both Air Transport World and Airline Ratings.

Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance and has grown into one of the largest trans-Pacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines. 

For more information about Korean Air, please visit koreanair.com, facebook.com/KoreanAir, Google.com/+KoreanAir_KE, and X @KoreanAir_KE.

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