Best airlines to fly with in 2023
Kiwi-Code uncovers prices airlines don't want you to see.
Use our flexible filters to tailor your search.
Look out for the travel hack star icon for even cheaper fares.
You can choose the best airline based on your preferences and demands on the flight. For example, connoisseurs of comfort will appreciate Qatar Airways for their top-rated business class. Eco-aware passengers should pay attention to Etihad Airways, which became the most eco-friendly company in 2022. Travelers with limited budgets will appreciate Southwest (US), EasyJet (Europe), Jetstar (Asia), and FlyDubai (Near East) for their affordable prices.
Check out the information below to help you choose the most suitable airline.
Largest airlines in the world
Considering different metrics, such as the number of destinations, passengers, aircrafts and workload, we can highlight the following largest airlines:
- American Airlines — more than 6700 flights daily, 881 aircrafts, 157 destinations
- Delta Airlines — around 5400 flights daily to all continents, 834 aircrafts, 355 destinations
- Turkish Airlines — 312 aircrafts and 306 destinations
- China Southern Airlines — 121 destinations, 626 aircrafts, in the top 10 in number of passengers per year
Largest airlines in Europe:
- Ryanair — serving only 34 countries, Ryanair carries more international passengers than any other airline
- Lufthansa — 201 destinations, in the top 10 in number of passengers per year
- International Airlines Group (with British Airways and Iberia as subsidiaries) serves about 200 destinations worldwide
- EasyJet — in the top 10 in number of aircrafts and passengers per year
Largest airlines in US:
- American Airlines and Delta Airlines mentioned above as the biggest airlines not only in the US but in the world
- Southwest Airlines — more than 700 aircrafts and more than 100 different destinations
- TAM Airlines — the largest airline in South America
Featured airlines
Normally, airlines are divided into traditional and low-cost ones. Look at the table below to understand the difference between them.
Traditional airlines |
Low-cost airlines |
Division into economy and business class | A shared cabin for all passengers |
High baggage allowance | Baggage is usually strictly limited or paid additionally |
Options of ticket exchange or money refund in case of cancelling the flight | No ability to change or cancel a flight for free, money is not refunded |
Both direct and transfer flights | Direct flights only |
Drinks and food are free on board | Drinks and food are paid additionally |
Ability to choose seats | Random seats (particular seats can be booked for an extra charge) |
Both online services and offline ticket offices | Online purchase of tickets only |
Consider the facts above to decide which type of airline suits you best.
Pay attention to top-rated low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair, WizzAir, FlyDubai, AirAsia, and others, if you don’t mind random seating or the absence of free food and drinks.
If you are not limited in budget, consider traditional airlines and their specific features. For example, virtual reality glasses are included in the price of a first-class ticket on Qantas, and the ability to listen to pilots' conversations is free on board United Airlines.
Traditional airlines
- Wasaya Airways
- Tel Aviv Air
- Origin Air
- Air Antilles Express
- Sarpa
- Costa Rica Green Airways
- ETF Airways
- UEP Fly
- HelloFly
- Niceair
- Bulgaria Air
- Air Montenegro
- Aleutian Airways
- American Airlines
- Air Europa
- Prishtina JET
- SAS
- Emirates
- ANA Wings
- Heston Airlines
- FlyleOne
- Air Canada
- French Bee
- Air France
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Mavi Gök Airlines
- KLM Cityhopper
- AeroMéxico
- ITA Airways
- Precision Air
- Belavia Belarusian Airlines
- Iberia Airlines
- Viva Air
- Green Africa Airways
- Iberojet Airlines
- Smartwings Poland
- MASwings
- NouvelAir
- Air Serbia
- Lufthansa
- Qatar Airways
- Global crossing airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Global Crossing Airlines
- Wingo airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Nordwind Airlines
- Premier Airlines
- S7 Airlines
- Sky Alps
- Pakistan International Airlines
- Genghis Khan Airlines
- A.P.G. Distribution System
- Ukraine International Airlines
- Renegade Air
- Super Air Jet
- Air Ocean Airlines
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
- Sansa Air
- Oman Air
Low-cost airlines
- Mango
- Bangkok Airways
- FLY ONE
- Gol Transportes Aéreos
- Peach Aviation
- Smartavia
- IndiGo Airlines
- Fastjet
- Azul
- Ruili Airlines
- Ural Airlines
- Air Do
- Cebu Pacific
- Jet2
- Transavia
- Malaysia Airlines
- Aero Mongolia
- JetBlue Airways
- SunExpress
- Silver Airways
- easyJet
- Batik Air
- Blue Air
- Thai Lion Air
- Regional Express
- Lion Air
- TUI fly Netherlands
- Air India Express
- Thai Smile
- Fly Dubai
- Go First
- Aegean
- Eastar Jet
- Airnorth
- Fly540
- Air Busan
- Aerolineas Sosa
- Cape Air
- Star Flyer
- Lucky air
- Skymark Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Vueling
- SATENA
- Rusline
- EVA Air
- Kulula
- Novoair
- Volotea
- germanwings
- AirPanama
- Cem Air
- Regent Airways
- Cinnamon Air
- Aer Lingus
- Amaszonas
- Onur Air
- Severstal Air Company
- Arkia
- AirAsia
Airline alliances
Air alliances are global airline partnerships. What are the benefits for passengers of using flights within a particular alliance? Here are the main advantages:
- A wide variety of destinations
- Common bonus programs that allow you to collect reward points through air travel with any of the participating airlines
- A simplified procedure for connecting flights
For example, if you have to fly from the USA to Europe, airlines of one alliance will offer tickets, guaranteed connections between flights, and baggage delivery to the final destination. You don‘t have to book several tickets separately with a transfer, calculate your time between flights, and check in for each flight individually.
The three largest airline alliances are Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and OneWorld.
Star Alliance
- TAP Portugal
- Air India Limited
- Copa Airlines
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Egyptair
- Asiana Airlines
- All Nippon Airways
- Croatia Airlines
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Avianca El Salvador
- Brussels Airlines
- Thai Airways International
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Air New Zealand
- Turkish Airlines
- Regional Express Americas
- Scandinavian Airlines Connect Ltd.
- South African Airways
- Eurowings Discover
- Avianca
Oneworld
- LATAM Brasil
- Cathay Pacific
- Sun Air of Scandinavia
- Finnair
- JAL Express
- Cathay Dragon
- Japan Airlines
- Nordic Regional Airlines
- Japan Transocean Air
- Qantas
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
- LATAM Ecuador
- LATAM Airlines
- Level
SkyTeam
Explore airlines
The choice of airlines in the world is immense. However, here is some useful information about the airlines to help you organize your trip. Usually, flying from one continent to another implies a long duration of the flight. Use these criteria and our lists of airlines to make the right choice for a comfortable trip:
- A big, comfortable distance between seats (AirArabia, Air France, AirBaltic, El Al, Etihad Airways)
- Good food service (Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines)
- Entertainment to pass the time (Etihad Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines); passengers of these airlines can watch movies on the screen built into the back of the seat in front of them, listen to music, or play interactive games
- Free baggage allowance (Etihad Airways and Atlasglobal are the leaders)
Safety is an essential factor for any flight, especially a long one. Air New Zealand and Qantas are recognized as the best airlines in 2022 regarding safety.
Middle East and Africa
- TUI fly Belgium
- Jambojet
- Air Cairo
- Air Algerie
- Wizz Air
- Royal Air Maroc
- Tunisair
- Fly Safair
- Pegasus
- Airlink (SAA)
- 748 Air Services
- Air Senegal
- East African
- Nile Air
- Rwandair
- Air Tanzania
- flynas
- Air Peace Limited
- PassionAir
- Regional Air Services
- Skyward Express Limited
- Etihad Airways
- Mauritania Airlines International
- TAAG Angola Airlines
- Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
- El Al Israel Airlines
- Flyadeal
- TunisAir Express
- SkyUp MT
- Air Zimbabwe
- As Salaam Air
- Binter Canarias
- Coastal Aviation
- Condor
- FlyEgypt FT
- Safarilink Aviation
- Smartwings
- Sundair
- TUI Airways
Asia
- Firefly
- Thai AirAsia
- Scoot
- Philippine Airlines
- VietJet Air
- Batik Air Malaysia
- Nok Air
- Indonesia AirAsia
- Philippines AirAsia
- Spicejet
- Corendon
- Gulf Air Bahrain
- Airswift
- ZIPAIR
- Citilink
- Air Arabia
- Cambodia Angkor Air
- TUS Airways
- Wings Air
- Air Vistara
- Sky Angkor Airlines
- Jeju Air
- Jetstar Airways
- Kam Air
- Blue Bird Airways
- Uzbekistan Airways
- CebGo
- Israir
- Buta Airways
- Jin Air
- Tailwind Airlines
- SalamAir
- HiSky Europe
- Azerbaijan Airlines
- Tway Airlines
- Air Astana
- Air Moldova
- Vietravel Airlines
- FlyArystan
- Himalaya Airlines
- US-Bangla Airlines
- Freebird Airlines
- Myanmar Airways
- Jazeera Airways
- Kuwait Airways
- Scat Airlines
- Bamboo Airways
- Jordan Aviation
- Lanmei Airlines
- Nepal Airlines
- Royal Brunei Airlines
- Fiji Airways
- Hunnu Air
- MIAT Mongolian Airlines
- Myanmar National Airlines
- Solaseed Air
- Somon Air
- Aircalin
- HiSky
- TUI fly Deutschland
- Yeti Airways
- airBaltic
- Buddha Air
- Cambodia Airways
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines
- CitizenPlane
- Fly Baghdad Airlines
- Fuji Dream Airlines
- Qazaq Air
- Shandong Airlines
- Starlux Airlines
- Air Macau
- Air Seoul
- Air Travel
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Hong Kong Express Airways
- Oriental Air Bridge
- Thai AirAsia X
Europe
- Eurowings
- Norwegian
- Flyr
- SKY express
- Play
- Iberia Express
- KM Malta Airlines
- DAT Danish Air Transport
- flybe
- Widerøe
- Air Transat
- LoganAir LM
- Olympic Air
- WestJet
- Luxair
- Air Corsica
- Icelandair
- Air Caraïbes
- Eastern Airways
- AlbaWings
- Amapola Flyg
- Cyprus Airways
- World2fly
- Virgin Atlantic Airways
- Neos Air
- Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas
- Bulgarian Air Charter
- ASL Airlines France
- AlbaStar
- Blue Islands
- SATA Air Acores
- SwiftAir
- Air Albania
- Atlantic Airways
- Corsair International
- Wamos Air
- Edelweiss Air
- Enter Air
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Animawings
- Canary Fly
- Divi Divi Air
- GP Aviation
- Sevenair
- St Barth Commuter
- Transaviabaltika
- Air Greenland
- Aurigny Air Services
- Corendon Dutch Airlines B.V.
- GullivAir
- Jonair
- TUI fly Nordic
- Trade Air
Oceania
North America
- Spirit Airlines
- Volaris
- Allegiant Air
- VivaAerobus
- Flair Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Lynx Air
- Swoop
- Sun Country Airlines
- BREEZE
- TAR Aerolineas
- Porter Airlines
- Aeromar
- interCaribbean Airways
- Sunwing
- Caribbean Airlines
- Sky Airline
- EZ Air
- Bahamasair
- Key Lime Air
- Seaborne Airlines
- Vieques Air Link
- Air North
- PAL Airlines
- Pacific Coastal Airline
- Pascan Aviation
- Southern Airways Express
- Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos
- Tropic Air Limited
- AirCentury
- Cayman Airways
- Orbest