Saudia Leads the Middle East for Airline Staff Service in Skytrax 2025 Ranking
Air travel in the Middle East is known for its highly competitive aviation industry, where airlines continually seek to improve the passenger experience. From airport assistance and check-in services to cabin hospitality and onboard support, frontline employees play an important role in shaping how travelers remember their journey.
According to the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025, Saudia secured the top position for Best Airline Staff in the Middle East, followed by Qatar Airways and Emirates. The category evaluates the overall quality of frontline airline staff service across both airport and onboard experiences.
Saudia Takes the No. 1 Position
Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, ranked first in the Middle East category. The recognition highlights the service provided by employees who interact directly with passengers throughout their journeys.
Qatar Airways followed in second place, while Emirates claimed third. The ranking demonstrates the strong competition among major Middle Eastern carriers for service quality and passenger satisfaction.
Top 10 Airline Staff in the Middle East
Skytrax’s 2025 regional ranking lists the following airlines:
- 🇸🇦 Saudia
- 🇶🇦 Qatar Airways
- 🇦🇪 Emirates
- 🇧🇭 Gulf Air
- 🇦🇪 Etihad Airways
- 🇴🇲 Oman Air
- 🇸🇦 Flynas
- 🇦🇪 flyDubai
- 🇯🇴 Royal Jordanian Airlines
- 🇰🇼 Kuwait Airways
The ranking is specifically about airline staff service, rather than being a general ranking of the best airlines in the region. That distinction is important because Skytrax publishes separate awards covering overall airline quality, cabin crew, airport services and other passenger-experience categories.
Different Rankings Tell Different Stories
The broader Skytrax rankings show just how competitive Middle Eastern aviation has become. In the Best Airlines in the Middle East 2025 category, Qatar Airways ranked first, Emirates second and Saudia third.
Meanwhile, in the Best Cabin Crew in the Middle East 2025 category, Qatar Airways took first place, Saudia was second, Emirates third, Gulf Air fourth and Oman Air fifth.
This means that a carrier’s position can vary considerably depending on what aspect of the passenger experience is being measured.
Why Staff Service Matters
Airline employees are often the first and last representatives of a carrier that passengers encounter. Their work extends far beyond serving meals or answering questions onboard.
Ground teams assist travelers during check-in, boarding and connections, while cabin crews are responsible for safety procedures, passenger assistance and hospitality during flights.
For international airlines operating through major Middle Eastern aviation hubs, consistent staff service can therefore be an important part of the overall travel experience.
A Passenger-Based Recognition
The Skytrax World Airline Awards are based on a large international passenger survey. Skytrax says its 2025 awards used feedback from travelers around the world, while the organization’s 2026 survey has already closed and the 2026 awards are scheduled for September 18, 2026.
Consequently, the list provided above should be identified as the 2025 Skytrax Best Airline Staff in the Middle East ranking, rather than a 2026 ranking.
Middle East’s Aviation Service Competition
The results underline the depth of competition among airlines headquartered across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Kuwait.
Saudia’s first-place finish in staff service gives the Saudi carrier a notable achievement, while Qatar Airways and Emirates continue to feature prominently across several major Skytrax categories. Qatar Airways, for example, was named the world’s best airline in the 2025 World Airline Awards.
Ultimately, the ranking illustrates how passenger service has become an important competitive factor in Middle Eastern aviation. As airlines expand their networks and invest in modern aircraft and airport infrastructure, the human interaction between passengers and airline employees remains a crucial part of the journey.
