Addis Ababa, 6 November 2025 – PRESS AFRICA – Which is Africa's best-performing airline in 2025? Several international rankings help answer that question, notably those of Skytrax and AirlineRatings.com. Here is an overview of the big winners, the criteria used, and the outlook for the region.

According to Skytrax, the following airlines top the "Best Airlines in Africa" ranking for 2025:

  1. 1st: Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopia) – for the eighth consecutive year.
  2. 2nd: Air Mauritius (Mauritius) – recognised for its quality of service and long-haul coverage.
  3. 3rd: RwandAir (Rwanda) – winner of the "Best Regional Airline in Africa" award.
  4. South African Airways (South Africa)
  5. EgyptAir (Egypt)
  6. Royal Air Maroc (Morocco)
  7. Kenya Airways (Kenya)
  8. FlySafair (South Africa, low-cost)
  9. LIFT (South Africa, low-cost)
  10. Fastjet (East Africa)

The criteria taken into account

The rankings combine several dimensions:

  • Passenger satisfaction (quality of in-flight service, comfort, entertainment). For example, Ethiopian Airlines won "Best Economy Class".
  • The destination network and the modernity of the fleet. A well-connected airline with recent aircraft scores points.
  • Operational efficiency, punctuality, cleanliness and the overall experience. For example, Airlink was named "Cleanest Airline in Africa".
  • Positioning (full-service vs low-cost): some rankings distinguish specific "Low-Cost" categories.

Strengths

Ethiopian Airlines clearly stands out for its consistency and its "pan-African" strategy: a vast network, a modern fleet and an award-winning service. Air Mauritius proves that a small island country can aim for excellence by combining high-end service with an international network. RwandAir has established itself in the regional category, which demonstrates the rising momentum of African medium-haul carriers.

Challenges

Competition remains tough: improving punctuality, spreading comfort standards more widely, and strengthening intra-African connectivity. African airlines must also contend with high costs (fuel, maintenance, infrastructure) and networks that are sometimes less densely populated. For low-cost carriers, the challenge is to maintain an acceptable quality of service while keeping fares attractive.

Outlook for travellers and the region

For a passenger based in Africa or travelling to or from Africa, favouring a highly rated airline such as Ethiopian, Air Mauritius or RwandAir can improve the experience (comfort, network, service).

For the region, this ranking is a positive sign: it indicates that African airlines can compete on the international stage. However, a real qualitative leap also requires improved airport infrastructure, staff training and regional cooperation.

In 2025, the hierarchy of African airlines is fairly clear: Ethiopian Airlines remains the undisputed leader, followed by Air Mauritius and RwandAir. However, the landscape remains fluid. New carriers may emerge, and travellers should keep an eye on the overall experience, not just the airline's name. The challenge for the whole of Africa is to turn good airlines into a concrete asset for the continent.

Writer: Saïd TESSILIMI