AirHelp Inc. has released a list of the best and worst airlines of 2024, with Brussels Airlines emerging as the unexpected champion, soaring from 12th place to claim the coveted top spot, dethroning Qatar Airways after its remarkable five-year reign. This Belgian carrier’s dramatic ascent tells a story of strategic transformation and customer-centric innovation. Meanwhile, United and American Airlines defied expectations, securing third and fourth positions respectively, despite a year marked by significant disruptions.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Tunisair bore the ignominious label of the world’s worst airline, languishing at the bottom of the 109-airline ranking. Its poor performance symbolizes the challenges faced by national carriers struggling to meet modern traveler expectations.
The bottom 10 airlines reads like a cautionary tale of aviation:
Worst Airlines in 2024:
- 1. Tunisair
- 2. Buzz
- 3. Bulgaria Air
- 4. Pegasus Airlines
- 5. El Al Israel Airlines
- 6. Nouvelair
- 7. Tarom
- 8. IndiGo
- 9. Air Mauritius
- 10. Sky Express
Notably, budget carriers and national airlines dominate this list, highlighting systemic challenges in delivering consistent, high-quality service.
In contrast, the top 10 represent a diverse mix of excellence:
Best Airlines in 2024:
- 1. Brussels Airlines
- 2. Qatar Airways
- 3. United Airlines
- 4. American Airlines
- 5. Play (Iceland)
- 6. Austrian Airlines
- 7. LOT Polish Airlines
- 8. Air Arabia
- 9. Widerøe
- 10. Air Serbia
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The rankings reveal fascinating trends. Some carriers like Alaska Airlines experienced dramatic drops, plummeting over 30 spots to 88th place, while others like Brussels Airlines demonstrated remarkable resilience and improvement.
The report, led by CEO Tomasz Pawliszyn, meticulously evaluated airlines across multiple dimensions: on-time performance, customer claims processing, and passenger experiences spanning food, comfort, and service quality.
Customer feedback emerged as the critical differentiator. Airlines that listened, adapted, and prioritized passenger experience rose to the top, while those remaining static found themselves struggling.
This annual assessment acts as a strategic roadmap for airlines worldwide, challenging them to continuously innovate, improve operational efficiency, and most importantly, truly hear their passengers.
As global travel rebounds and evolves post-pandemic, these rankings serve as a powerful reminder: in the competitive skies of modern aviation, customer satisfaction isn’t just a metric—it’s the ultimate destination for all things aviation.
