British Airways has been named the best airline in the UK and Europe for 2026, marking the second consecutive year it has won the award. The recognition comes from the Flyers' Choice Awards, run by AirlineRatings.com, which are based on passenger feedback about their experiences with different airlines.
Award based on passenger feedback
Lufthansa finished in second place, while KLM came third. Speaking about the achievement, AirlineRatings.com said: “That’s particularly impressive in a region with such a diverse mix of airlines, from traditional flag carriers to the low-cost giants that carry millions of passengers every year.”
History since 1974
British Airways has been in business in its current form since 1974. It was created when British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways were brought together, along with Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines. Two years later, in 1976, British Airways began flying the Concorde.
Privatisation and alliance
British Airways was then privatised in 1987 and became one of the founding members of the oneworld alliance in 1999. In 2011, British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia joined together to form International Airlines Group.
Current operations
Today, British Airways flies passengers all over the world. Heathrow is the airline’s main hub, while it also operates from Gatwick and London City Airport. The airline has around 250 to 290 aircraft across its main operations and direct subsidiaries. Its fleet includes smaller Airbus aircraft used on shorter journeys as well as Boeing 777s, Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350-1000s for longer flights. British Airways also still operates the Airbus A380.
In total, the airline flies to more than 180 destinations across around 75 to 80 countries. Its network includes destinations across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
