Photo: Delta Air Lines
Which airlines won Robb Report's 2026 Airline Awards?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 29 October 2026
Robb Report's first Airline Awards, published on 22 October 2026, named 13 winners: Delta Air Lines twice, for Best Domestic Airline and Best Lounge, with Emirates, Air France, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, NetJets, KLM, La Compagnie, PS Private Terminals and LaGuardia Airport taking one category each. This page sets out who decided the awards, what each entry says and which winner fits which traveller. Winners are listed in Robb Report's own order; nothing from any other list is added.
Who decides Robb Report's Airline Awards?
Robb Report's editors decide the awards after consulting RR1 members and the magazine's nearly two dozen Travel Masters, the luxury travel advisors it works with. It is a panel of frequent premium flyers and the people who book for them, not a public survey and not a data model. Robb Report says the method is the one it uses for its Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth list. The 2026 awards are the first; they were published on 22 October 2026 and updated on 27 October, written by Laura Dannen Redman and Mark Ellwood.
Which airlines won and for what?
Thirteen winners in 13 categories: Delta Air Lines (Best Domestic Airline and Best Lounge), Emirates (Best International Airline), Air France (Best First Class), Etihad Airways (Best Suites), Qatar Airways (Best Business Class), Cathay Pacific (Best Food and Wine Program), Singapore Airlines (Best In-Flight Service), NetJets (Best Private Jet Share), KLM (Best Business-Class Amenity), La Compagnie (Best Premium Startup), PS Private Terminals (Best Innovation) and LaGuardia Airport (Best Airport Renovation). Each card gives Robb Report's reasons, what to ask for and when the winner is not the fit.
Delta Air Lines
- Award
- Best Domestic Airline
- Why Robb Report chose them
- The most on-time airline in its peer set, newer aircraft and consistent service. Robb Report writes that Delta is the only US airline in the global top ten ranked by Cirium, the flight data company. It calls Delta's sliding-door suites a benchmark for the industry. Travel Master John Clifford of International Travel Management pointed to its partnership with PS private terminals. RR1 member Vahid Manian said that when a flight is delayed or cancelled Delta is "by far more attentive to customer needs than any other airline".
- Ask for
- The Delta One suite on an A350 or A330-900 for the sliding door. Robb Report notes a new in-flight product due in early 2027 (Wagyu beef burgers, Blanton's bourbon, a Champagne sorbet and branded tableware); ask whether your route has it yet.
- Not the fit if
- You are judging the airline on economy: every point in the entry is about the front of the aircraft, the ground experience and on-time performance.
Emirates
- Award
- Best International Airline
- Why Robb Report chose them
- Emirates placed in the top three, often the top two, of six categories, among them Best First Class, Best Suites and Best In-Flight Service. Its first class has personalised temperature and lighting, virtual window displays and meals on demand ordered by voice call; the seats were designed with input from NASA. Premium economy has an electric recline. Lavatories are cleaned after every use. Travel Master Catherine Heald and RR1 member Armando Femiano are quoted on the first class and on the airline's consistency across categories.
- Ask for
- First class on the aircraft with the newest cabin, since the award rests on it. Ask which aircraft flies your route.
- Not the fit if
- You want a direct US domestic flight or a European short haul: Emirates flies long haul through Dubai.
Air France
- Award
- Best First Class
- Why Robb Report chose them
- La Première, relaunched in 2025. On the ground: a dedicated check-in and private security clearance at Paris CDG and Los Angeles, Alain Ducasse dining and Sisley facials in the La Première lounge, transfers by Porsche Cayenne. On board: a four-suite cabin on selected Boeing 777-300ERs, 37 square feet per passenger, an armchair and a separate chaise longue that convert into a 79-inch bed, five windows and floor-to-ceiling privacy curtains. Travel Master Jonathan Adler is quoted on the space and the service.
- Ask for
- A 777-300ER fitted with the new four-suite cabin; the old cabin is still flying on other aircraft.
- Not the fit if
- Your route is not one the new cabin flies: Robb Report names Paris and Los Angeles for the ground service.
Etihad Airways
- Award
- Best Suites, for The Residence
- Why Robb Report chose them
- The Residence, introduced on the Airbus A380 in 2014: three rooms, a living room, a bedroom with a double bed and an en-suite shower. Robb Report calls it a peerless product while noting that its technology and furnishings are not as modern as rivals that rebuilt their first class in the last two years. It is now sold as an upgrade on a first class ticket, with room for two, between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Singapore Changi, Toronto Pearson or Tokyo Narita.
- Ask for
- The upgrade price on top of a first class fare and which of the five A380 routes you can take.
- Not the fit if
- You want the newest seat technology: Robb Report says rivals that rebuilt their first class recently have more modern cabins.
Qatar Airways
- Award
- Best Business Class, for the Qsuite
- Why Robb Report chose them
- An enclosed pod with 52-inch walls, a sliding privacy door and a fully flat bed of 79 inches, in some cabins a double bed, with a 21.5-inch screen, meals on demand and a turn-down service with White Company pyjamas and slippers and Diptyque toiletries. Robb Report notes the airline once considered dropping first class because the Qsuite was so strong. Travel Master Jonathan Adler calls it the closest thing to first class at a business class price. In Doha, the Al Mourjan Business Lounge.
- Ask for
- A Qsuite-fitted aircraft; not every Qatar Airways business class seat is a Qsuite.
- Not the fit if
- You want a first class cabin: the entry is about business class. Qatar Airways' first class is not on the list.
Cathay Pacific
- Award
- Best Food and Wine Program
- Why Robb Report chose them
- In premium economy and economy, Hong Kong Flavors dishes made with Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurants, such as smoked duck breast with pickled mustard greens and braised beef brisket. In first and business, a menu with the one-Michelin-starred Duddell's: wok-fried prawns, fried rice and braised chicken with abalone. Meals are paired with a global wine list. Western dishes are also served. RR1 member Michael Noonan praised the food.
- Ask for
- The Hong Kong Flavors menu on your flight, which Robb Report says reaches economy as well as the front cabins.
- Not the fit if
- Food is not what you are choosing an airline on: the entry does not cover Cathay Pacific's seats or service.
Delta Air Lines (Delta One lounges)
- Award
- Best Lounge
- Why Robb Report chose them
- The Delta One lounges, starting with the almost 40,000-square-foot lounge at New York JFK Terminal 4 that opened in June 2024. A French brasserie for a quick meal, a shoeshine station, spa treatments by therapists and roving bar carts. Five lounges are open and four more are planned. Travel Masters Stacy Fischer Rosenthal of Fischer Travel and Gary Portuesi of Authentic Explorations are quoted on the JFK lounge, the second on how uncrowded it stays.
- Ask for
- Which airports have a Delta One lounge today (five, per Robb Report) and whether your ticket gives access; the Delta One lounges are separate from the Sky Clubs.
- Not the fit if
- You fly Delta but not in Delta One: the award is for the Delta One lounges, not the Sky Club network.
Singapore Airlines
- Award
- Best In-Flight Service
- Why Robb Report chose them
- Service that Robb Report describes as consistent from the front of the aircraft to the back. Cabin crew train for four months before joining. The entry gives small examples: turning on a reading light as a hand rises, keeping an ice cream back for a child, knowing the meal and wine options in detail. Robb Report notes the crew make a 19-hour flight pass quickly.
- Ask for
- The same service applies in every cabin, so ask about the route and aircraft rather than the class.
- Not the fit if
- You want a US domestic or intra-European airline: Singapore Airlines flies long haul through Singapore.
NetJets
- Award
- Best Private Jet Share
- Why Robb Report chose them
- The largest fleet among its peers, which Robb Report ties to reliability and access, seats available at a few hours' notice, exclusive-use terminals, a dedicated international trip-planning team and the option to move up or down in aircraft size and range for a given trip. Travel Master Mark Lakin of The Legacy Untold is quoted on the fleet size, short lead times and the mix of aircraft.
- Ask for
- The share or card product that fits your hours and which exclusive-use terminals serve your home airport.
- Not the fit if
- You fly commercial: this is the one private aviation company on the list.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Award
- Best Business-Class Amenity
- Why Robb Report chose them
- The Delft Blue miniature houses filled with Dutch gin, a business class gift since the 1950s. There are 107 houses, each a real Dutch building or landmark; a new one is released on 7 October each year, KLM's anniversary. Robb Report notes that some special editions sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars online. The Anne Frank House is number 47 and the Rembrandt House number 48.
- Ask for
- A business class seat on an intercontinental flight, which is where the houses are given.
- Not the fit if
- You are choosing the airline on its seat or its food: the award is for the gift, nothing else.
La Compagnie
- Award
- Best Premium Startup
- Why Robb Report chose them
- An all-business-class French airline flying since 2013, from Newark to Paris-Orly, Nice and Milan, with Dusseldorf from April 2027, on Airbus A321neos with 76 seats. Every passenger gets fast-track security, lounge access and a lie-flat seat, for less than the average cost of a business class ticket, as Robb Report puts it. The food and the film selection are French; the same cabin crew may work both legs of a round trip.
- Ask for
- A fare quote against a legacy airline's business class on the same Newark to Paris or Milan date.
- Not the fit if
- You are not flying from Newark to Paris, Nice or Milan: those are the routes.
PS Private Terminals
- Award
- Best Innovation
- Why Robb Report chose them
- Private terminals for commercial passengers. PS opened at Los Angeles International a decade ago as Private Suite, in a separate building two miles from the airfield with private suites and its own security screening, so passengers skip the main terminal. Under CEO Amina Belouizdad Porter, in the role since 2018, it has added Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami, with a first terminal outside the US planned at Paris CDG in 2027. Robb Report notes the PS burger is the most praised item.
- Ask for
- Which airlines and flights at your airport PS serves and the price per person or per suite.
- Not the fit if
- You are not flying from Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth or Miami: those are the terminals today.
LaGuardia Airport
- Award
- Best Airport Renovation
- Why Robb Report chose them
- An eight-year, $8 billion rebuild of Terminals B and C at LaGuardia in Queens, New York, now complete, serving 32.8 million passengers a year. Terminal B has a 21,000-square-foot Chase Sapphire Lounge on level 4 and the Capital One Landing with Spanish tapas from the José Andrés Group. Terminal C, led by Delta, has a 34,000-square-foot Sky Lounge, local restaurants such as Bubby's and public art curated by the Public Art Fund and the Queens Museum.
- Ask for
- Lounge access at Terminal B needs the right card; at Terminal C, a Delta ticket or Sky Club membership.
- Not the fit if
- You are flying long haul from New York: LaGuardia serves domestic and short international routes; JFK and Newark take the rest.
Which winner is best for which traveller?
For a US domestic flight the list points to Delta; for a long-haul first class seat to Air France, Emirates or Etihad; for business class to Qatar Airways; for a business class fare at a lower price across the Atlantic to La Compagnie. Each line names the award that puts the company there.
- US domestic, on time, looked after if the flight is cancelled: Delta Air Lines (Best Domestic Airline).
- Long-haul first class with the newest cabin: Air France La Première (Best First Class).
- An airline strong in every cabin: Emirates (Best International Airline, top three in six categories).
- The most space, for two: Etihad's The Residence (Best Suites), on five A380 routes from Abu Dhabi.
- Business class that feels like first: Qatar Airways Qsuite (Best Business Class).
- The meal, in any cabin: Cathay Pacific (Best Food and Wine Program).
- The best time on the ground before a Delta One flight: the Delta One lounges (Best Lounge).
- Service on a very long flight: Singapore Airlines (Best In-Flight Service).
- Private flying with the widest choice of aircraft: NetJets (Best Private Jet Share).
- Business class across the Atlantic for less: La Compagnie (Best Premium Startup), Newark to Paris, Nice and Milan.
- Skipping the terminal on a commercial flight: PS Private Terminals (Best Innovation), at LAX, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami.
- The best US airport to fly from: LaGuardia (Best Airport Renovation).
What the awards do not cover
There is no economy category, no fares and no order within a category, so the list does not say which airline is cheapest or which is best for a traveller in the back of the aircraft. One US airline won; no American, United, Alaska or JetBlue entry appears. No low-cost airline is named. On-time performance is Robb Report's description, with Cirium named as the ranking behind it; the figures themselves are not given. Delta's new in-flight product, due in early 2027, was announced after the award and is not part of it.
Which to check first
Start with the winner in the category that matters most for your trip, then price the others on the same route. Ask each airline for the same three things: the aircraft and cabin on your flight (the awards rest on specific products, not whole fleets), what the fare includes on the ground (check-in, security, lounge, transfers) and the change terms.
- Delta Air Lines for a US domestic flight, or a Delta One flight if a lounge matters. delta.com.
- Air France for first class between Paris and Los Angeles. airfrance.com.
- Qatar Airways for business class through Doha. qatarairways.com.
- Emirates for a long-haul first or business seat through Dubai. emirates.com.
- La Compagnie for Newark to Paris, Nice or Milan in business class. lacompagnie.com.
Robb Report Airline Awards 2026: the questions people ask
Which airlines won Robb Report's 2026 Airline Awards?
Delta Air Lines (Best Domestic Airline and Best Lounge), Emirates (Best International Airline), Air France (Best First Class), Etihad Airways (Best Suites), Qatar Airways (Best Business Class), Cathay Pacific (Best Food and Wine Program), Singapore Airlines (Best In-Flight Service), NetJets (Best Private Jet Share), KLM (Best Business-Class Amenity), La Compagnie (Best Premium Startup), PS Private Terminals (Best Innovation) and LaGuardia Airport (Best Airport Renovation).
Who chooses the winners of the Robb Report Airline Awards?
Robb Report's editors, after consulting RR1 members and the magazine's nearly two dozen Travel Masters, the luxury travel advisors it works with. The 2026 awards are the first, published on 22 October 2026.
Which airline did Robb Report name the best domestic airline in 2026?
Delta Air Lines. Robb Report gave three reasons: the most on-time record in its peer set, newer aircraft and consistent service. It also noted the partnership with PS private terminals.
Which airline won Robb Report's Best International Airline award in 2026?
Emirates. It placed in the top three of six categories, among them Best First Class, Best Suites and Best In-Flight Service.
Which airline has the best first class according to Robb Report in 2026?
Air France, for La Première, relaunched in 2025: a four-suite cabin on selected Boeing 777-300ERs with 37 square feet per passenger and a 79-inch bed.
Which airline has the best business class according to Robb Report in 2026?
Qatar Airways, for the Qsuite: an enclosed pod with a sliding door, a 79-inch bed, a 21.5-inch screen and meals on demand.
Which airline lounge did Robb Report name the best in 2026?
Delta's Delta One lounges, starting with the almost 40,000-square-foot lounge at New York JFK Terminal 4 that opened in June 2024. Five are open and four more are planned.
Which airline has the best in-flight service according to Robb Report in 2026?
Singapore Airlines. Its cabin crew train for four months. Robb Report describes the service as consistent in every cabin.
Which airline has the best food and wine according to Robb Report in 2026?
Cathay Pacific, for its Hong Kong Flavors dishes made with Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurants, served in premium economy and economy, plus a menu with Duddell's in first and business.
Did any US airline other than Delta win a Robb Report Airline Award in 2026?
No. Delta is the only US airline on the list, with two awards. The other US winners are NetJets (private jet share), PS Private Terminals and LaGuardia Airport.
Does Robb Report's list rank airlines or cover economy class?
No. Each category has one winner and no order, there is no economy category and fares are not compared.
Read next
Built to answer AIR-0001 to AIR-0007 in the Panel; AIR-0008 to AIR-0012 are read beside them and not targeted. What is shown: the winners of Robb Report's 2026 Airline Awards, published 22 October 2026 and updated 27 October 2026, read on 29 October 2026, in the order of Robb Report's list, with what each entry says. Robb Report's editors, RR1 members and Travel Masters decided the awards; Uncompromised Travel ranks and scores nothing here. No company paid for a place on this page. Companies are linked to their own sites with plain links. How this site earns · How we work.