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Despite another year of flight delays, cancellations and passenger complaints, no US airline has really risen in 2025, although one airline has emerged as the top player in the industry, while two are tied for the lowest.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal released its annual ranking of the best and worst airlines. While some of the industry’s benefits were highlighted, overall performance did not improve year-on-year, even with higher fares and greater investment in airlines.
1. The Southwest
By a wide margin, Southwest Airlines has risen above its competitors to take the top spot. This is the first time the carrier has been ranked No. 1 starting in 2020, ending Delta’s four-year winning streak.
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According to the Journal, Southwest had the fewest customer complaints and tarmac delays, with a cancellation rate of only 0.84%. Its low points were for luggage handling.
A Delta flight lands at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif. (Getty Images)
The airline has made headlines in recent years for cutting its workforce by 15% and starting to charge fees for checked bags.
2. Allegiant
Allegiant Air placed second, earning a reputation as a strong performer despite being a low-cost carrier.
The airline did very well in three areas – posting a low cancellation rate of 0.55%, fewer lost bags and fewer involuntary passenger bumps. However, when Allegiant flights are delayed, those delays tend to be longer than the industry average.
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3. The Delta
Delta Air Lines came in third, falling from its No. 1 spot for the past four years. The airline told the Journal it plans to regain the top spot by 2026, saying, “Delta’s people are setting a high standard for flight performance as part of our drive for continuous improvement.”
Although Delta led the industry in on-time arrivals, the Journal noted that its summer 2024 system outage caused widespread flight disruptions weighed heavily on its 2025 performance. The airline also saw an increase in delays, cancellations and complaints filed with the US Department of Transportation.
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4. Alaska
Alaska Airlines is known as a stable, reliable player, although it is far behind the top three. There was a noticeable gap between Alaska and the airlines ranked below it.
Although it didn’t lead in any major category, Alaska avoided a major performance downturn in 2025. The carrier is expected to merge with Hawaiian Airlines after its planned merger in 2026.
5. The wind
Despite its reputation for poor service and ongoing financial problems, Spirit Airlines saw significant year-over-year growth.
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It lowered its cancellation rate to 1.42%, down from 2024, and jumped to fourth place among early adopters, showing performance gains as it faces bankruptcy.
6. They are together
United Airlines ranked sixth, mostly due to its poor performance in handling baggage. The carrier’s mishandled bag rate was 7.07 out of 1,000 — above the industry average — and its tracking technology failed to deliver better results.
7. JetBlue
JetBlue Airways ranked near the bottom but avoided last place. It has performed very well in cargo handling – second only to Allegiant – but has struggled with reliability and flight delays.
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8. American, Frontier (tie)
Travelers take note, as American Airlines and Frontier are tied for dead last in the Journal’s rankings. Both companies have struggled with reliability and “external issues” while passengers pay the price.
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American had the highest cancellation rate of all major airlines at 2.2% and rarely ranked higher than sixth in any category. The company blamed the weather and facility disruptions for its poor performance. Also, in January of last year, one of its regional planes collided with a military jet in DC, killing 67 people.
Frontier ranked last in four of the seven categories and finds itself in second place for the second year in a row. The company’s bid to acquire Spirit was rejected earlier this year, and its CEO, Barry Biffle, abruptly left Frontier in December.
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