Three honors at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards recognize the carrier’s service and its continuing role in connecting Africa with the world.
Aviation & Business
By I. E. Aroh — Afribraz Global Business Magazine
September 2026
Ethiopian Airlines has been named Best Airline in Africa at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards for the ninth consecutive year. It also won Best Business Class in Africa and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Africa. Skytrax’s published winners list confirms all three awards.
The recognition reflects sustained achievement in a demanding industry. Passengers judge an airline across the entire journey: the quality of service on board, the ease of connections, and the confidence that their travel plans will work. Repeated wins raise the standard Ethiopian must meet each year.
An African network with global reach
From its Addis Ababa hub, Ethiopian links cities across Africa to destinations on other continents. The airline says its network includes more than 145 international passenger and cargo destinations, including more than 60 African cities. These links serve families and tourists while also providing entrepreneurs and companies with routes to meet partners and move goods. Group CEO Mesfin Tasew credited customer confidence and employee dedication for the latest awards. The airline says it continues to invest in aircraft, digital systems, network growth, and passenger service.
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Afribraz Global Business Magazine congratulates Ethiopian Airlines, its leadership, and its employees on this achievement. Nine consecutive regional titles are a reason to celebrate and invite even greater ambition. Could an African airline one day reach the world’s top five or lead the global rankings? Why not? Ethiopian’s progress lends credibility to that ambition, though achieving it will require continued investment and consistently excellent service. A regional award is a milestone on that journey, not a prediction of when it will be achieved.
From five aircraft to eight decades of aviation
Ethiopian Airlines was founded on December 21, 1945, and began scheduled operations on April 8, 1946, flying to Cairo via Asmara in a Douglas C-47. As a partner of Trans World Airlines, it started with five aircraft. It has since grown into an aviation group involved in passenger travel, cargo, training, and aircraft maintenance.
Eighty years after that first flight, Ethiopian continues to carry African aviation onto the world stage. Its latest awards honor how far it has come. How high it soars next will depend on the experience it delivers to passengers in the years ahead.
