Air Mauritius has achieved a record 52nd place in the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, surpassing its previous ranking of 63rd in 2025. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for the airline, which has been steadily improving its services and passenger experience. The 2026 World Airline Awards were announced on September 18 at a gala ceremony in London, hosted by Skytrax, a renowned airline rating organization.
In addition to its impressive ranking, Air Mauritius was also recognized as home to the second-best Cabin Crew in Africa, behind EgyptAir and ahead of Ethiopian Airlines. This accolade is a testament to the airline's commitment to providing exceptional service and hospitality to its passengers. The airline's crew has been praised for their warm and welcoming nature, which is reflective of the authentic Mauritian hospitality that the airline aims to provide.
Air Mauritius' achievement is all the more notable given that it has held a 4-Star Airline status from Skytrax since 2014, a rating shared by an elite group of around 40 airlines worldwide, including British Airways, Air France, and Emirates. This rating recognizes consistent quality across cabins and strong service standards both onboard and at home-base airports. The airline's commitment to quality and service has been a key factor in its improved ranking.
The 2026 World Airline Awards are based on the world's largest annual airline passenger satisfaction survey, covering more than 300 airlines worldwide. The rankings are drawn from passenger feedback and ratings, providing an independent and authoritative assessment of airline performance. Skytrax has been running the awards since 1999, and they are often referred to as the "Oscars of the aviation industry."
Air Mauritius CEO, Andre Viljoen, expressed his gratitude to the airline's team members who have contributed to this achievement. He emphasized that the airline's strategic direction is focused on providing remarkable service quality, centered on an authentic Mauritian hospitality mindset across every guest interaction. The airline's Building Remarkable Service Quality strategy is guiding its transformation into a future-fit airline.
The improved ranking comes after a challenging period for Air Mauritius, and marks a significant milestone in its ongoing turnaround. The airline has taken a foundation-first approach to improvement, listening to passengers and staff to identify areas for change. This approach has enabled the airline to make targeted improvements to its services and passenger experience, which will continue to be rolled out through 2026 and 2027.
Looking ahead, Air Mauritius has set its sights on breaking into Skytrax's top 20 airlines worldwide. The airline is committed to continuing to improve its services and passenger experience, with a focus on making changes visible to passengers directly, be it onboard, on the ground, or at its ticketing offices. With its sights set on further improvement, Air Mauritius is poised to continue its upward trajectory in the Skytrax rankings.
Key points
- Air Mauritius reaches 52nd place in 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, its highest-ever ranking.
- Air Mauritius is named home to the second-best Cabin Crew in Africa.
- The airline aims to break into Skytrax's top 20 airlines worldwide.
