Economy class travel has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, as airlines recognize that passengers expect more than just a seat. In 2025, Business Traveller readers cast their votes for the airlines that excel in delivering the best long-haul and short-haul economy experiences, focusing on cabin comfort, meal quality, technology, and service. This year’s results reveal both well-known leaders and emerging innovations that are reshaping the economy travel landscape.
The rankings reflect passenger sentiment and overall experience rather than fleet size or route networks, offering an insightful look at airlines that genuinely prioritize economy passengers.
Qatar Airways: Leading the Pack
Qatar Airways has once again claimed the top spot, maintaining its reputation for offering a premium experience even in its most affordable cabin. Passengers frequently commend the airline for its spacious seating, supportive headrests, and a cabin layout that avoids the cramped feeling often associated with long journeys.
The airline’s Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft are particularly admired for their quiet interiors and advanced air circulation systems, which help reduce fatigue. A standout feature is the Oryx One entertainment system, praised for its smooth interface and extensive collection of films, series, and live TV channels.
Qatar’s in-flight Wi-Fi, while variable across aircraft, often outperforms many global carriers, providing a reliable connection on long-haul routes. The meal service is another area where Qatar Airways shines, offering well-portioned dishes with balanced flavors that often feel akin to premium economy offerings. Combined with attentive and multilingual cabin crew, Qatar Airways continues to set the standard for modern economy class.
Singapore Airlines: Synonymous with Excellence
Singapore Airlines remains a benchmark for quality, with its economy cabin reflecting the same meticulous attention to detail found in its premium products. Ergonomically refined seats offer excellent support, even during ultra-long-haul flights, with adjustable footrests and supportive cushions making long journeys more comfortable.
The KrisWorld entertainment platform is frequently lauded for its vast content catalog, responsive screens, and easy navigation, often surpassing many business-class equivalents. The airline’s focus on passenger comfort extends to cabin lighting and air quality management, enhancing the overall travel experience.
Meals are of high quality, often featuring Asian-influenced options that stand out for their authenticity and taste. Crew service is consistently polished and warm, making Singapore Airlines a favorite among families, solo travelers, and business travelers flying economy.
Emirates: Consistency Across the Fleet
Emirates secures the third position, known for comfort across its Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s. The A380, in particular, is a favorite among travelers due to its quiet environment and spacious configuration. The airline’s ICE entertainment system is regularly acknowledged as the best in-flight entertainment platform globally, with thousands of hours of content and intuitive controls.
Meals onboard Emirates are hearty and thoughtfully presented, often exceeding expectations for economy travel. The airline performs particularly well on long-haul routes to Europe, Asia, and the Americas, where consistent food quality and friendly cabin crew contribute to positive reviews.
Cathay Pacific Airways: Subtle and Refined Service
Cathay Pacific’s approach to service is subtle and refined, resonating strongly with frequent travelers. In 2025, its updated long-haul economy seats gained significant praise for lumbar support, ergonomic comfort, and enhanced storage space for personal items.
The airline’s StudioCX entertainment platform offers a strong variety of content and clear display quality. Passengers value the calm and professional service style of Cathay’s cabin crew, which creates a peaceful in-flight environment.
Cathay Pacific also excels in catering, with meals featuring balanced flavors and reliable portion sizes. Asian-influenced dishes, especially on routes connecting Hong Kong with North America and Europe, receive particularly positive feedback.
Air New Zealand: Innovation in Economy Travel
Air New Zealand continues to innovate in the economy travel space, with its Skycouch—a row of seats that converts into a sofa-like surface—being a favorite among couples and families. Even without Skycouch, the airline’s standard seats are well-designed, offering good cushioning, clear IFE screens, and adequate legroom.
Passengers highlight the airline’s friendly, humorous service culture as a defining element of the travel experience. The crew’s approachable style and uniquely New Zealand personality add a memorable dimension to the journey. Meal quality is strong, with fresh ingredients and regionally inspired dishes that travelers often enjoy.
Entertainment options are solid, and the airline has invested significantly in maintaining a consistent experience across its long-haul fleet. Air New Zealand’s combination of comfort, creative seating options, and warm hospitality helps it secure the fifth position in 2025.
The Future of Economy Class Travel
The 2025 ranking of the best economy class airlines by Business Traveller reflects a global shift towards elevating the economy experience. As competition grows, these airlines demonstrate that economy passengers can still enjoy a sophisticated, comfortable, and memorable journey, even on the world’s longest flights.
With ongoing investments in new aircraft and cabin enhancements, the standard for economy travel in the years ahead is set to rise even further. The focus on passenger comfort, technological integration, and service quality will continue to drive the evolution of economy class, ensuring that travelers receive value for their money.
