Ethiopian Airlines has been crowned Best Airline in Africa 2026 at the APEX Passenger Choice Awards, which ranks airlines based on passengers’ firsthand experiences.
The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mesfin Tasew, received the award at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa.
In a press release issued today, May 4, 2026, the airline said the award was made possible by the continued confidence of its passengers. The statement added that the airline’s consistent “strong service, onboard comfort, and operational reliability” enable it to meet customer expectations and stand out from the competition.
The selection, which was based on feedback collected from passengers, further proved that the recognition is genuine, the statement noted.
Mesfin was quoted as saying:
“Receiving this recognition from our passengers makes it truly special. It reflects the dedication and teamwork of our staff across the entire network. Being named Best Airline in Africa motivates us to keep raising our standards and delivering an experience our customers can trust and enjoy.”
According to the statement, this is not the first time the airline has won an APEX award for its “long-term commitment to quality service and operational excellence.”
The APEX CEO, Joe Leader, said that Ethiopian Airlines continues to lead African aviation by providing quality service and customer satisfaction. According to him, the rating employed a method of collecting data from more than one million verified flight feedback entries.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline in terms of global destinations and fleet size, has also launched an expansion project in Bishoftu at a cost of $12.5 billion. Once completed, its runway capacity will be the largest in Africa.
