AirAsia has been recognized as the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for 2025 by AirlineRatings.com, reinforcing its leadership in delivering affordable, value-driven air travel while continuously raising the bar for industry standards.
AirlineRatings.com evaluates each airline comprehensively, assessing the services and offerings available to passengers across its fleet and network. For the top 20 low-cost airlines of 2025, those ranked the highest provide exceptionally low base fares, an extensive route network, and a range of affordable on-board services, such as meals, drinks, and snacks. These airlines also meet stringent safety standards, including a seven-star safety rating.
From its humble beginnings in 2001 with only two aircraft serving domestic routes in Malaysia, AirAsia has transformed low-cost travel. The airline has since flown over 800 million passengers, connecting more than 130 destinations through multiple hubs across its five key markets: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, attributed this achievement to the dedication of AirAsia’s Allstars, the airline’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence, and the loyal support of its guests over the years.
“Being consistently ranked among the world’s best low-cost airlines since 2018 reflects our success in key areas like safety, value, guest satisfaction, and reliability. Starting 2025 with this recognition, along with our recent 7/7 safety rating, further fuels our drive to evolve, improve, and provide the best possible experience for our guests. We thank AirlineRatings for their meticulous approach to recognizing airlines that go above and beyond,” said Bo Lingam.
As part of its ongoing strategy, AirAsia has made significant strides across the region by staying agile and innovative, even as it manages the challenges of rising demand and industry supply constraints. Key initiatives include seamless mobile check-ins, real-time flight updates, AI-powered personalization, and enhanced service recovery options, all designed to deliver a reliable yet cost-effective travel experience.
Looking forward, AirAsia’s focus remains on fleet expansion, boosting connectivity to popular destinations and new secondary cities, digital innovations, and airline consolidation to meet the growing travel demand. With a focus on affordability, sustainability, and cutting-edge service, the airline is committed to strengthening trust among all stakeholders—guests, employees, and partners—while working toward its vision of becoming the world’s first global low-cost network carrier.
Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings Pty Ltd, noted, “While our World’s Safest Airlines focus on safety, the World’s Best Airlines awards focus on passenger comfort, feedback, and product consistency across an airline’s route network. These awards are not a popularity contest; each airline is thoroughly evaluated based on what it offers passengers across its entire fleet and network.”
Petersen also highlighted AirAsia’s strong operational performance: “AirAsia stands out for its extensive flight network connecting Southeast Asia to the world and vice versa, all at affordable fares. Furthermore, AirAsia’s hot meals are considered among the best-tasting in the low-cost segment, representing great value when pre-purchased during booking.”
In 2024, AirAsia Aviation Group carried over 63 million passengers with an impressive 89% load factor, reflecting sustained demand. Fleet expansion played a key role in supporting this growth, with the airline’s active fleet reaching 205 aircraft out of 224, including the reactivation of 14 planes and the addition of 10 new aircraft, further enhancing efficiency and network expansion.
AirAsia’s commitment to delivering high-quality low-cost travel continues to set the standard for the aviation industry in 2025 and beyond.
