Singapore Airlines has once again secured the top position among the world’s most admired airlines. In Fortune’s 2026 World’s Most Admired Companies list, released on Wednesday (January 21), Singapore’s national carrier ranked first in the airline industry and 24th globally.
The achievement also marks a four-place improvement from the previous year, rising from 28th in 2025.
At the Asian level, SIA emerged as the second-highest-ranked company, just behind Toyota Motor of Japan, which placed 23rd worldwide. This result also makes Singapore Airlines the only Singapore-based company to break into the global top 50 most admired companies this year.
Leading the Global Aviation Industry
Within the airline category, Singapore Airlines outperformed several major competitors. Delta Air Lines of the United States ranked second, followed by Air France-KLM in third place. United Airlines and Lufthansa Group completed the top five most admired airlines in Fortune 2026.
Notably, although Delta Air Lines ranked higher overall, placing 11th globally, Singapore Airlines was still rated superior within the aviation sector.
The rankings are based on a survey conducted by Fortune in partnership with management consulting firm Korn Ferry, involving 3,380 global executives, directors, and securities analysts.
Respondents were asked to evaluate companies within their respective industries across nine key criteria, including management quality, product and service quality, innovation, global competitiveness, investment value, social responsibility, and the ability to attract talent.
From this process, around 3,000 respondents then selected the 10 companies they most admired across all industries.
A Record of Consistency and Operational Performance
Singapore Airlines’ inclusion in the rankings for the 24th time underscores a level of reputational consistency that few companies can match.
Last year, SIA set a new record by carrying 41.6 million passengers, up 6.6 percent compared with 2024. The airline also achieved a new monthly record of 3.8 million passengers in its most recent reporting month.
SIA’s global ranking places it ahead of many multinational giants across industries, including Nike, Starbucks, BMW, Accenture, Visa, Samsung, Mastercard, UPS, as well as major aerospace players such as GE Aerospace, Airbus, and Lockheed Martin.
Outside of SIA, only one other Singapore-based company made the list: Wilmar International. Although it did not enter the global top 50, Wilmar ranked fourth in the global food production category.
The Global Landscape of the World’s Most Admired Companies
Globally, the top 10 most admired companies remain dominated by U.S.-based firms, particularly from the technology and financial services sectors. Apple retained the top spot for the 19th consecutive year.
Microsoft and Amazon once again secured the second and third positions, maintaining a streak that has lasted seven years.
Other companies in the top 10 include Nvidia, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway, Costco Wholesale, Alphabet, Walmart, and American Express.
