Air Canada has been named the Best Airline in North America at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, marking another major milestone for the country’s largest carrier. The award was announced this week at the Paris Air Show, one of the industry’s most important annual gatherings, and reflects the results of a global passenger satisfaction survey conducted over the past year.
The Skytrax awards are widely considered source of airline rankings worldwide. With input from more than 22 million travelers across over 100 countries, the awards assess airlines on various aspects of the travel experience, including service, catering, cabin comfort, crew professionalism, and airport lounge quality.
In addition to being recognized as the Best Airline in North America, Air Canada walked away with eight other major distinctions. The airline was awarded for having the best business class lounge dining in the world, thanks to its Signature Suite at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The premium facility, available only to international business class passengers, has earned a reputation for high-end dining and personalized service, setting it apart from traditional airport lounges.
Air Canada was also named the Most Family Friendly Airline in North America, a category that reflects how well an airline accommodates children and families, both on the ground and in the air. The airline received further recognition for its onboard catering, winning in both the business class and premium economy categories for North America. It also took home awards for having the best cabin crew in Canada and in North America overall, underscoring the impact of service quality across its network. In a separate regional category, the airline’s Rouge subsidiary was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Canada.
In a public statement, Air Canada expressed gratitude to its employees and passengers. “We are honoured to be named Best Airline in North America once again and to have won a total of nine categories at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards,” the airline wrote in a message shared on its social media channels. “This recognition is a reflection of the care, dedication and passion of our incredible employees, and the continued trust of loyal customers like you.”
These awards come at a time when Air Canada has been focused on restoring and strengthening its international reputation following a difficult period during and after the pandemic.
Over the past year, the airline has expanded its global route network, upgraded in-flight entertainment options, introduced complimentary Wi-Fi on select flights, and rolled out enhancements to the Aeroplan loyalty program. Improvements in digital services, including mobile booking tools and real-time travel updates, have also been part of the airline’s broader effort to modernize its offerings and respond to shifting customer expectations.
The accolades arrive amid a competitive environment where many travelers have voiced concerns about delays, high fares, and inconsistent service issues not unique to Air Canada, but common across the North American aviation sector.
The airline has faced criticism in recent years over operational reliability during peak travel seasons, and while these latest honors suggest progress, not all passengers may see those improvements reflected in their day-to-day experiences.
Although Air Canada did not appear in the top global rankings positions which is largely dominated by Asian and Middle Eastern carriers such as Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, it remains the highest-rated airline based in North America this year.
As the airline industry continues its post-pandemic recovery, carriers are under pressure to balance capacity, service quality, and affordability.
The challenge now will be to sustain that momentum, particularly as competition intensifies and travelers become more vocal about the value they expect from full-service carriers. For many, this year’s awards may offer a reason to take a second look at Air Canada—not just as the national carrier, but as a North American airline setting new standards in multiple categories.
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