For years, Delta Air Lines was considered the undisputed champion of US air travel, setting what many regarded as the industry's gold standard. However, the latest annual rankings from the Wall Street Journal have delivered a dramatic shake-up to the established pecking order. The prestigious assessment, published today, reveals that Atlanta-based Delta has been decisively knocked off its perch after holding the number one position for four consecutive years.
A New Champion Emerges
This year, the top honour has been claimed by Southwest Airlines, the largest domestic carrier in the United States by passenger numbers. This marks the first time Southwest has secured first place since 2020. The victory is particularly notable given the airline's controversial year, during which it implemented several customer-facing changes that sparked debate. These included introducing charges for checked baggage and seat selection, services that were traditionally included in its ticket prices.
Southwest ascended from its second-place finish in 2024 to win by a considerable margin this year. The Dallas-based carrier excelled across all seven key performance measures evaluated by the Journal. It recorded the fewest customer complaints and the fewest tarmac delays, while securing second place for both on-time arrivals and low cancellation rates. Its weakest category result was a fourth-place ranking for baggage handling.
The Full Ranking Results
The complete list of the Wall Street Journal's 2025 rankings presents a fascinating picture of the current airline landscape. Following Southwest in first place, the ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air, based in Las Vegas, achieved a surprising second-place finish. This is despite its straightforward, no-frills business model. Delta Air Lines was relegated to third position.
The rankings then continue with Alaska Airlines in fourth, followed by Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways. American Airlines and Frontier Airlines found themselves tied for the eighth and final position, jointly ranking as the worst-performing carriers in the study.
Notable Movers and Industry Context
One of the most remarkable stories within the rankings is the dramatic improvement of Spirit Airlines. The budget carrier leapt three places compared to its second-to-last finish in 2024. This vast improvement is especially striking given the airline's well-publicised financial struggles, including two bankruptcy filings in November 2024 and again in August 2025. Reports from CNBC indicate Spirit is currently in discussions with investment firm Castlelake regarding a potential takeover.
Southwest's return to the summit comes against a challenging backdrop for the entire airline industry. Carriers have contended with customers cutting back on travel and widespread delays exacerbated by a national shortage of air traffic controllers. Furthermore, Southwest itself has undergone significant operational changes under pressure from activist investors. These changes included launching red-eye flights, the aforementioned new fees, and a 15 percent reduction in its corporate workforce this past February.
"The reaction here is embarrassing," was one viral comment regarding airline industry pay, highlighting the public scrutiny carriers face. Southwest's Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Watterson, has stated the airline has invested billions into improving its operations following the severe holiday travel disruptions of late 2022 and early 2023.
Performance Across Key Categories
Delving into the individual performance categories reveals where each airline excelled. Delta Air Lines comfortably won the on-time arrivals category for an impressive fifth consecutive year, with Southwest finishing as the runner-up this time. Allegiant Air ranked top for having the fewest cancelled flights, another category where Southwest placed second.
Alaska Airlines had the fewest delays overall, while Frontier suffered from the most. In avoiding tarmac delays, Southwest took first place, with United Airlines coming last. Allegiant also secured first place in both the mishandled baggage and involuntary bumping categories, indicating fewer instances of these passenger inconveniences.
A Steady State for the Industry
According to the Wall Street Journal's analysis, overall airline performance remained largely steady compared to the previous year, with no major industry-wide gains or setbacks. Key industry averages for metrics like flight cancellations, lost baggage, and passenger bumping rates remained essentially unchanged from 2024 levels. This consistency makes the reshuffling at the top of the rankings all the more significant, signalling a shift in which carriers are best meeting passenger expectations and operational standards in a stable market.
