This Is Officially the U.S.’s Best Economy Class Airline in 2025

Economy air travel prioritizes affordable fares, comfort, seat quality, meal value, and reliable service! It remains the world’s most popular category in the travel industry.

Delta has officially earned the title of the best airline for economy passengers in the United States, according to the globally recognized aviation ranking authority, Skytrax. The distinction reinforces Delta’s position as a leader in passenger comfort, onboard catering, and route availability — yet experts say Americans are overlooking the factors that earned the airline the win.

The latest Skytrax World’s Best Economy Class Airlines rankings ranked Delta 13th globally — beating all other U.S. competitors but failing to crack the international top 10. Remarkably, no airline based in the United States placed among the world’s 10 best carriers in economy class, a trend that highlights a growing service and comfort gap in the North American aviation sector.

What Gives Delta the Edge in the U.S.?

Delta stands out from rivals like American, United, JetBlue, and Southwest due to a combination of strategic global expansion and measurable improvements in passenger experience:

• Route Expansion in Europe and Asia: The airline recently announced new nonstop European routes from East Coast hubs, increasing competition with transatlantic carriers. Delta has also proposed expanding flight capacity to Asia, aligning with growing demand for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia travel.
• Top-Rated Onboard Catering in North America: Skytrax named Delta the winner of Best Economy Class Catering in North America. While it did not make the global top 10 for meals, the airline led all North American carriers — scoring highest in menu variety, special meal quality, and service consistency.
• Seat Comfort and Cabin Design: While Skytrax does not specify a standalone “Best Economy Seat Comfort in the U.S.” winner, Delta received the highest economy score among U.S. airlines overall, suggesting leading marks in seat ergonomics, legroom comfort, and in-flight rest quality. Delta’s economy seating benefits from spoken passenger preference for firmer cushioning, adjustable headrests, consistent recline mechanics, and refined cabin finishes.

The airline’s fleet modernization plays an important role, especially the Boeing 737, which services regional and mid-range international routes, featuring updated economy configurations and improved vibration dampening for smoother rides.

So, Why Is the U.S. Lagging Behind?

Despite Delta’s domestic lead, U.S. airlines collectively trail global counterparts — especially carriers in Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. Analysts point to several structural causes:

• U.S. Airlines Prioritize Business Class Profits: Unlike Asian competitors that compete aggressively on economy passenger satisfaction, U.S. airlines allocate more cabin space and investment toward business and premium economy, where revenue margins are substantially higher.
• Seat Density Over Passenger Comfort: Many U.S. airlines squeeze more passengers per plane compared to carriers like Singapore Airlines, ANA, Emirates, and Qatar Airways — all of which prioritize economy seat standards and service excellence.
• Catering Quality & Cost Constraints: Many U.S. airlines still rely on mass-contracted domestic catering providers, which often leads to less memorable economy meal experiences compared to fresh regional dining concepts favored by Asian and European airlines.

Worldwide Ranking

Cathay Pacific keeps the TOP spot in the worldwide ranking along with other Asian and Middle Eastern airlines.

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Japan Airlines
6. EVA Air
7. Emirates
8. STARLUX Airlines
9. Hainan Airlines
10. Turkish Airlines