A passenger aircraft after take off in a sunset sky. Credit:
fhm/Getty Images

When it comes to budget airlines, AirAsia is hard to beat. Skytrax, the U.K.-based airline quality tracking firm, just named the Malaysia-based carrier the world’s best low-cost airline for the 17th consecutive year.

Originally established in 1993, AirAsia was relaunched in 2001 as a budget airline, with the goal of making travel accessible to more people. “To see how far we’ve come, and to still be trusted by travelers around the world today, is something we’re incredibly proud of,” AirAsia co-founder Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said in a statement.

From its hub in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, AirAsia flies across Asia and to Perth, Australia. The seats are tight, but the price is usually right, and the tradeoff has been worth it for more than 900 million passengers since the airline’s inception.

Newer AirAsia planes are equipped with USB chargers and WiFi, with streaming entertainment available on some flights. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase on all flights, and Skytrax notes that “prices are reasonable, and there is a good range of pre-order items.”

The onboard menu takes its inspiration from Asia’s vibrant street food culture, with options like Thai basil chicken, nasi lemak, and chicken rice. Snacks include kaya butter toast, a Malaysian and Singaporean breakfast specialty made with coconut jam, and the airline also offers its own line of freeze-dried meals, including wild mushroom hot pot ramen and creamy tom yum seafood noodles. AirAsia also has one of the broadest selections of specialty coffees in the sky, with a menu that includes Vietnamese iced coffee, a coconut milk latte, and a zero-sugar pistachio coconut latte.

As part of the low-carrier model, AirAsia base fares include a 7 kg (about 15 lbs.) cabin baggage allowance; seat selection, meals, and checked bags cost extra. A package deal includes 20 kg (about 44 lbs.) of checked baggage, a hot meal, and a customer’s choice of seat. Premium fares can include up to 40kg (about 88 lbs.) of checked luggage, priority boarding, and a lie-flat seat on long-haul routes.

The airline frequently earns accolades for cleanliness and solid service. Seats have a tight, 29-inch pitch—the industry standard metric estimating legroom—that Skytrax describes as suitable for shorter flights.

“This is a most competitive and fast-growing market for low-cost airlines, and this award is a clear affirmation of AirAsia’s success,” Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said. AirAsia also holds a 3-Star Low-Cost Airline rating from Skytrax.

Here’s Skytrax’s full list of world’s best low-cost airlines 2026

AirAsia
Scoot
Vueling Airlines
Eurowings
Iberia Express
Volotea
Transavia France
Flynas
IndiGo
Allegiant Air
Ryanair
Jet2.com
EasyJet
HK Express
Peach
JetSMART Airlines
FlyArystan
flyDubai
Sun Country Airlines
airBaltic

Meena Thiruvengadam

This Airline Was Named the Best Low-cost Carrier in the World for the 17th Year in a Row—With Affordable Fares and Great Food