Africa’s Top Airlines in the Skytrax Top 100 Best Airlines in the World (2025)

The 2025 Skytrax World’s Top 100 Airlines had seven African airlines highlighted among the best.

Below, we detail their ranking and compare it to where they were in the previous year.

2025 Ranking: African Airlines in the Top 100

1. Ethiopian Airlines
   • 2025 global rank: 38
   • 2024 global rank: 35
   • 2024 regional accolade: Named Best Airline in Africa, marking its seventh consecutive win
     
     Related: Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines Forge Partnership, And New Flights Between Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi
2. Air Mauritius
   • 2025 global rank: 63
   • 2024 global rank: 85
   • 2024 status: Ranked 6th among African airlines
3. RwandAir
   • 2025 global rank: 64
   • 2024 global rank: 81
   • 2024 status: 5th among African airlines
   • 2025 accolade: Awarded Best Regional Airline in Africa at Paris Air Show
4. South African Airways (SAA)
   • 2025 global rank: 67
   • 2024 global rank: 69
   • 2024 regional status: 3rd best in Africa
5. Egyptair
   • 2025 global rank: 68
   • 2024 global rank: 88
   • 2024 regional status: 7th in Africa
6. Royal Air Maroc
   • 2025 global rank: 70
   • 2024 global rank: 55
   • 2024 regional status: 2nd in Africa
7. Kenya Airways
   • 2025 global rank: 89
   • 2024 global rank: 77
   • 2024 accolades: Awarded Best Airline Staff Service in Africa and ranked 4th regionally
     
     Related: Flying Kenya Airways Economy From Nairobi’s JKIA to Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport

Skytrax’s results reveal not just presence but upward momentum. Many African airlines have climbed significantly in the global ranking from 2024 to 2025. Highlights include:

• Ethiopian Airlines retains its dominance as Africa’s top airline and clinches its seventh straight regional award.
• Air Mauritius and RwandAir delivered impressive global comebacks, jumping over 20 places.
• RwandAir earned extra prestige as Best Regional Airline in Africa in June 2025.
• Strong staff performance drives success: Kenya Airways was even recognized for outstanding service.
• Royal Air Maroc and Egyptair maintain solid positions within the top 100.

Final Thoughts & What Needs to be Done

There have been significant improvements in African aviation, but more needs to be done to build on this progress.

One key area is infrastructure. Africa is rich in natural beauty and cultural experiences, but to attract more travelers, countries need to invest in their airlines—expand fleets, modernize airports, and turn these spaces into destinations, not just transit points.

Another major factor is effective management. Ethiopian Airlines is a standout example, and much of its success is credited to strong leadership and strategic operations. On the flip side, poor management, corruption, and excessive bureaucracy—especially from parastatals and government bodies—have stalled progress in many other national carriers.

Tourism boards also need to step up. They must promote their countries more boldly, not just internationally but also to local and regional travelers. New and creative approaches are key. Ghana, for example, has partnered with Beautiful Destinations, a global creative agency, to reimagine its travel marketing—an exciting step in the right direction.