RwandAir Named Best Airline Staff in Africa at 2026 Skytrax Awards

RwandAir has been named the Best Airline Staff Service in Africa for 2026 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, held at the Langham Hotel in London on Friday, 18 September.

The Rwandan national carrier finished first in the regional category, ahead of EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airways. The award recognises the combined quality of frontline staff service at airports and aboard flights. 

RwandAir Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Manzi Makolo dedicated the recognition to the airline’s employees.

“This recognition belongs to our people, whose dedication, professionalism and genuine care for our customers bring RwandAir’s service promise to life every day,” Makolo said. 

She added that the airline would continue investing in its employees as it grows and strengthens its position as a gateway connecting Africa to the rest of the world.

The latest result marks an improvement from 2025, when RwandAir placed second in the same category behind EgyptAir. Ethiopian Airlines finished third that year. 

The staff-service award is separate from the Best Airline in Africa title, which Ethiopian Airlines won in 2026. Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline, followed by Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific.

Skytrax determined the winners through a passenger satisfaction survey conducted between September 2025 and August 2026. Travellers from more than 100 countries participated, evaluating over 300 airlines.

The survey considered different areas of the passenger experience, including staff friendliness, efficiency, boarding assistance, language skills, problem-solving, check-in services and consistency of service.

Entries were screened to remove duplicate or ineligible submissions. Participation was voluntary, and passengers were not paid to take part in the survey. 

By Elisa UWINEZA