Qantas isn't a 5-star airline primarily due to a drop in service quality and reputation, marked by scandals like selling already-cancelled flights, poor catering, outdated lounges, and significant operational issues during the pandemic, though they've since improved in rankings, highlighting ongoing challenges with customer perception and inconsistent experiences, even as they remain a Skytrax 4-Star certified carrier.
Like Singapore Airlines, it carried 18 million passengers across 88 locations while maintaining its five-star Skytrax score. Australia's very own Qantas finished in third place with a commendable customer satisfaction score of 94.
The World Airline Star Rating was introduced by Skytrax in 1999 and is a premier evaluation system grading airlines on quality. The exclusivity of the 5-Star Airline Rating is underlined by the fact that there are just ten 5-Star Airlines that are currently awarded with this coveted quality distinction.
Fly with us in First and enjoy effortless luxury. Relax in one of our exclusive lounges, stretch out in your private First Suite and indulge in à la carte dining, tailored service and thoughtful touches that define the Qantas difference.
Sacking ground staff, stuffing up refunds, outsourcing core operations—every “efficiency” play seemed to trade trust for dollars. By 2024, Qantas had plummeted from its gilded place as one of the top five most trusted Aussie brands to one of the five least trusted in the country in Roy Morgan's data.
Air New Zealand has been named the world's safest airline for 2025, narrowly beating Qantas by just 1.5 points, according to AirlineRatings.com's annual review of 385 carriers.
Qantas did several things wrong, most notably illegally sacking 1,800 ground staff during the pandemic to avoid union action, leading to a record $90 million fine and $120 million in compensation; and misleading consumers by selling tickets for flights it had already decided to cancel, resulting in another $100 million penalty under Australian Consumer Law. The Federal Court heavily criticized the airline for lack of genuine remorse, calling its apologies "the wrong kind of sorry" and labeling the sackings a calculated union-busting operation.
Qantas offers a more premium, all-inclusive experience with a wider network, better lounges, and lie-flat business seats on some routes, while Virgin Australia competes with lower prices, better value in economy/mid-tier business, and sometimes better punctuality/fewer cancellations, though Qantas often wins on overall punctuality. The choice depends on budget, priority (price vs. premium service), and route; Qantas for premium international/network, Virgin for cost-effective domestic travel.
Qantas rebounds from worst-ever performance to be named world's 14th best airline in ranking.
Qantas never bought the Boeing 777 because it didn't fit their specific route needs, with earlier models considered too big for domestic flights and later options like the 777X facing competition from more suitable Airbus aircraft (A380, A350) that offered better range, capacity, or efficiency for their unique long-haul, point-to-point strategy, despite Qantas's early involvement in the 777's design program. Key factors included ETOPS rules (limiting twin-engine range), a focus on fewer aircraft types, and favorable Airbus deals for the A380/A330, making the 777 a less optimal choice.
Why is Emirates not 5-star? Emirates has long been highly rated but has not earned a 5-star rating from Skytrax. Factors such as consistency in service across all classes, the quality of lounges, and other specific areas may influence its rating, even though it is still considered a premium airline.
6 ASEAN Airlines Ranked as the World's Best Airlines in 2026 The 10 Best Airlines in the World in 2025, as Voted by Passengers Worldwide, are: 1. Qatar Airways 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Cathay Pacific 4.
The SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2025 have crowned Qatar Airways as the world's #1 airline, followed closely by Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
Qantas Airways's total debt for fiscal years ending June 2021 to 2025 averaged 7.347 billion. Qantas Airways's operated at median total debt of 7.232 billion from fiscal years ending June 2021 to 2025. Looking back at the last 5 years, Qantas Airways's total debt peaked in June 2021 at 8.229 billion.
QANTAS VOTED AUSTRALIA'S FAVOURITE AIRLINE.
World's best airline 2025: Qatar named best as Qantas climbs back from low point at World Airline Awards.
When including ground fatalities, American Airlines holds this distinction, with the 2001 crashes of Flight 11 and Flight 77 on 11 September, and Flight 587 on 12 November, with a combined total of approximately 2,000 deaths, including 416 people on the three aircraft.
Qantas has topped the world's safest airlines ranking for 2025 according to 42kft.com, a safety, environment, and product-focused airline ranking platform. Out of 142 carriers analysed – covering 85 per cent of global air traffic – Qantas Airways was crowned the world's safest airline.
Looking at domestic flights in Australia, our three main carriers (Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar) all have very similar widths, between 43 and 46 centimetres.
In-flight comfort
If comfort trumps time in your flight calculus, Qantas lords it over its budget sibling. The seats are plusher, there's more legroom and everything feels much less 'sardine'. You don't need to beg for a headset. The food is better than Jetstar's 7-Eleven offering.
Issues that have come to the forefront include the illegal sacking of 1700 workers during the pandemic. The airline also faces legal action from a consumer watchdog, which could result in a staggering $600 million fine. All this off the back of soaring delays and cancellations in 2022 which seeded the brand damage.
The Qantas 72-hour rule isn't one single policy but a general guideline for actions like finalizing bookings, payments, or special requests (medical, unaccompanied minors) needed at least 72 hours before departure for processing, while also defining airline responsibilities for disruptions (like cancellations or significant delays) occurring within 72 hours, meaning Qantas offers rebooking on the next available flight without charge if an involuntary change happens close to departure. Passengers should confirm details within this window for smooth operations, but the rule mainly dictates Qantas's handling of involuntary disruptions, not voluntary changes, which follow fare rules.
Qantas cabin crew salaries vary but average around A$64,000 annually, with entry-level pay potentially starting lower (A$50k-$55k) and increasing with experience and under recent pay deals, boosted by allowances, overtime, and significant staff travel benefits, though exact figures depend on role (domestic/international), contract, and years of service, with some reporting higher earnings after recent wage agreements.