According to Experts.news, Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline at the 2026 World Airline Awards, the results of which were announced by the international ranking organization Skytrax on September 18 in London.
Qatar Airways, which topped the global ranking in 2025, took second place, while Cathay Pacific Airways came in third. The top five also included Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways and Turkish Airlines.
The top 10 best airlines in the world in 2026 were:
Singapore Airlines
Qatar Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways
ANA All Nippon Airways
Turkish Airlines
Emirates
Air France
Hainan Airlines
Japan Airlines
Korean Air
Thus, half of the top ten were airlines from East and Southeast Asia. Among European carriers, Turkish Airlines and Air France made the top 10, while Emirates and Qatar Airways represented the Middle East.
Singapore Airlines won the top title of “World’s Best Airline” for the sixth time in the award’s history. In 2026, the carrier was also recognized as the world’s best for economy class and in-flight meals in economy class.
Qatar Airways, which took second place, received the award for Best Business Class and was also named the Best Airline in the Middle East. Additionally, in 2026, Skytrax presented the award for Best In-Flight Wi-Fi for the first time, which was also won by Qatar Airways.
The World Airline Awards have been organized by Skytrax since 1999 and are based on a passenger survey. The survey for the 2026 rankings took place from September 2025 through August 2026. Passengers from over 100 countries participated, and the final results included more than 300 airlines.
Respondents evaluated service at the airport and on board, seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, in-flight meals, staff performance, check-in, boarding, in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi, and value for money.
Source: Skytrax World Airline Awards.
According to “Serbian Economist”, Wizz Air will open an operational base at Pristina International Airport in November 2026, stationing one Airbus A321neo aircraft with a capacity of 239 passengers there. The company plans to launch three new routes from Pristina.
Wizz Air has been operating flights from Pristina since 2017. The opening of a full-fledged base means that the aircraft and crew will be permanently based at the airport.
The Belgrade base is under threat
At the same time, Wizz Air continues its dispute with Serbian aviation authorities over changes to the rules governing foreign carriers.
In March 2026, the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate adopted amendments to the regulations governing the issuance of permits to foreign airlines for international commercial operations.
According to Wizz Air’s interpretation, the new rules will not allow EU-registered carriers to maintain their current model of basing aircraft and crews in Belgrade, under which work shifts and flight rotations begin and end in Serbia.
Wizz Air Communications Director András Rado stated in June that unless the rules are changed, the company will be forced to close its base at Belgrade Airport in November. He emphasized, however, that the carrier does not want to leave.
Serbia’s Civil Aviation Directorate rejected the accusations, stating that no carrier is prohibited from operating flights between Serbia and EU countries. According to the regulator, the amendments do not restrict the right to operate flights but rather clarify the rules, which are the same for all foreign airlines.
As of mid-July, no final decision had been reached.
The closure of the Belgrade base would not necessarily mean a complete halt to Wizz Air’s flights to Serbia. The company could theoretically continue some flights using aircraft based in other countries. However, such a model typically results in fewer destinations, less convenient schedules, and limited opportunities to increase flight frequency.
Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, declared in 2008, and officially considers it an autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia.
On June 10, Antonov JSC (Kyiv) opened bids from tender participants for civil aviation risk insurance services (under insurance classes 1, 5, and 11), according to the Prozorro e-procurement system.
The price proposal from the sole tender participant, ASK “INGO,” amounted to €5.158 million, with an expected cost of €5.452 million.
As reported, insurance classes 1, 5, and 11 cover: aircraft insurance; air carrier liability insurance for damage caused to passengers, baggage, cargo, and mail; and civil commercial aircraft operator liability insurance for damage caused to third parties.
The company was the winner of a similar tender a year earlier.
INGO Insurance Company JSC has been providing insurance services for 30 years. Since 2017, the Ukrainian business group DCH has been the majority shareholder.
According to Serbian Economist, Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has stated that changes to Serbian aviation legislation could force the company to close its Belgrade hub as early as November 2026.
The carrier believes that the new rules could restrict competition in favor of Air Serbia and contradict Serbia’s obligations within the European Common Aviation Area.
Wizz Air has been operating in Serbia since 2010. According to the company, it has carried over 14 million passengers during this time and currently serves 29 routes to 26 European cities. If the base is closed, more than 150 jobs in aviation and related jobs in tourism, the hotel industry, and airport services will be at risk.
The Serbian aviation regulator rejects the allegations. The Directorate of Civil Aviation of Serbia states that no airline is prohibited from operating flights between Serbia and the EU, and that the new rules merely clarify the regulatory framework and apply equally to all carriers.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2960
Busin Insurance Company (Kyiv) has resumed the operation of the largest obligatory aviation liability reinsurance contract on the Ukrainian insurance market with a limit of $550 million and an obligatory reinsurance contract for aviation CASCO with a capacity of $6 million, according to the website of the insurer.
It is also noted that the well-known syndicates of Lloyds and the world’s leading companies with a high rating of financial reliability are involved in reinsurance contracts. The obligatory program fully applies to retrocession risks, which guarantees prompt consideration of proposals and reliable coverage of risks from reinsurance partners.
SK “Busin” was registered in February 1993. Specializes in risk types of insurance. He is a member of a number of professional and industry associations: the League of Insurance Organizations of Ukraine, the National Insurance Claims Club, the International Association of Aviation Insurers (UA), the Nuclear Insurance Pool, the American Chamber in Ukraine, the British Business Club.
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will continue operating flights according to the existing schedule, the company’s press service reported on February 14. “Ukraine International Airlines will continue to operate flights according to the existing schedule, operating 16 medium-haul aircraft without any changes in the schedule. In particular, today’s evening flights and tomorrow’s morning flights are operated without changes,” the company said in a statement.
UIA said the preservation of operational work was made possible by a constructive dialogue between UIA’s business partners, as well as cooperation with the Government of Ukraine.
“Currently, tickets for flights of UIA and partners are on sale on the official website of the airline. The airline will continue to regularly report any possible changes in its operations,” the airline said.
