Ethiopian Airlines Named Africa’s Best Carrier in 2025 Skytrax Rankings

Ethiopian Airlines has been ranked the best carrier in Africa in the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, cementing its position as the continent’s aviation leader amid a rapidly expanding fleet and network.

The airline emerged 36th globally, ahead of other African carriers in the annual rankings based on global passenger satisfaction surveys. Royal Air Maroc, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Air Mauritius and EgyptAir also made it into the top 100, reflecting growing competitiveness among African operators.

Globally, Qatar Airways was named the World’s Best Airline for a record ninth time, followed by Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific in second and third place respectively.

Founded in 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has grown into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline. The carrier has expanded its operations to over 150 destinations across five continents and is executing an ambitious 2035 strategy to further boost capacity.

Under its Vision 2035 plan, Ethiopian aims to more than double its fleet from 145 to 271 aircraft, grow international destinations from 133 to 207, and increase annual passenger numbers from 14 million to 65 million. The airline is also targeting cargo growth to 3 million tons a year, up from 700,000.

Recent investments include orders for Boeing 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, as well as Airbus A350s, representing the largest aircraft purchase in Africa’s history. The airline has also announced plans for a new mega-airport near Addis Ababa, designed to handle up to 100 million passengers annually.

The Skytrax awards, regarded as the most prestigious in the aviation industry, are determined through surveys involving millions of passengers worldwide. Often referred to as the “Oscars of aviation,” the awards recognise excellence in service, comfort, and performance.

With a reputation for safety, operational efficiency, and consistent profitability, Ethiopian Airlines continues to set the benchmark in African aviation.

Its steady climb in global rankings signals its ambition to become a major global player while maintaining its dominance on the continent.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org