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Skytrax Names The World’s Best Airport Lounges For 2026, With Chase Sapphire Lounge At LaGuardia Taking Top Spot

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 25, 2026

The world’s best airport lounges have been named by Skytrax, with the Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York’s LaGuardia Airport taking the No. 1 position in the 2026 World Airline Awards.

Based on votes from travellers around the world, the annual ranking draws on passenger satisfaction across key measures including facilities, service quality and staff hospitality. This year’s list highlights how independent airport lounges have evolved from simple waiting areas into premium spaces that can materially shape the traveller experience.

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European Lounges Make Their Presence Felt

In Europe, the top-performing lounge is Plaza Premium at Rome Fiumicino Airport, which ranked second overall. Another Plaza Premium Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4 placed fourth, making Plaza Premium the only operator with multiple lounges in the global top five.

Europe had just two lounges in the top 10, underscoring the competitive gap between regional hubs and the most highly rated global premium lounges. Still, the continent maintained a meaningful presence further down the list, with entries from Vienna, Istanbul and Munich.

Where The Top 20 Lounges Are Located

Beyond the top ranks, Vienna Lounge at Vienna International Airport finished 12th, iGA Lounge at Istanbul Airport came 17th, and Airport Lounge World at Munich Airport’s Terminal 1 also secured a place in the global top 20.

The full ranking reflects a market in which major credit card brands, premium lounge specialists and airport hospitality groups are all competing for traveller loyalty. Chase Sapphire, Capital One, American Express and Plaza Premium are among the names repeatedly appearing near the top.

Plaza Premium Extends Its Global Lead

Plaza Premium Group was also named the world’s best independent airport lounge group, marking a tenth consecutive year at No. 1. The company, which has three lounges in the top 20, continues to set the standard for the category.

“Being named world’s best airport lounge group for a tenth consecutive year is an incredible honour,” said Song Hoi See, Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group. “When we pioneered the concept of the independent airport lounge 28 years ago, our dream was to change how people experience airport transit.

“This award is far more than a trophy, it reflects the trust our travellers place in us and the dedication our teams bring to their work every single day.”

The World’s 20 Best Independent Airport Lounges 2026

1. Chase Sapphire Lounge – LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

2. Plaza Premium – Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

3. Chase Sapphire Lounge – Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

4. Plaza Premium – London Heathrow Airport (LHR) T4

5. Capital One – John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

6. American Express Centurion – John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

7. Coral Cosmo Lounge – Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

8. The Pearl – Bahrain International Airport (BAH)

9. Primeclass Lounge – Muscat International Airport (MCT)

10. Plaza Premium – Dubai International (DXB)

11. American Express Centurion – LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

12. Vienna Lounge – Vienna International Airport (VIE)

13. Capital One – Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

14. Chase Sapphire Lounge – Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

15. 080 Lounge – Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) T2

16. Plaza Premium First – Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

17. iGA Lounge – Istanbul Airport (IST)

18. Airport Lounge World – Munich Airport (MUC) T1

19. American Express Centurion – Haneda Airport (HND)

20. Strata Lounge – Auckland Airport (AKL)

The World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge Groups

1. Plaza Premium Group

2. TAV Primeclass

3. Chase Sapphire Lounges

4. Capital One Lounges

5. Coral Lounge Group

6. American Express Centurion Lounges

7. Aspire Lounges

8. Escape Lounges

9. Araya Lounges

10. CATRION Lounges

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Europe’s Deadly Summer Heat Exposed The Cost Of A Warming Continent

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 23, 2026

Europe experienced its deadliest summer for heat-related deaths on record in 2026, with an estimated 24,400 excess deaths linked to extreme temperatures across 30 countries. Researchers estimate that human-induced climate change was responsible for around 32,000 of the deaths attributed to heat in the study’s broader analysis, accounting for 65% of the total.

The findings highlight the growing public-health consequences of global warming, largely driven by fossil fuel use, as extreme heat becomes more frequent and severe.

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A Summer Of Dangerous Heat

Between June and August, heatwaves pushed temperatures in Western Europe to an average of 2.9°C above the 1991–2020 norm, with some days reaching 12°C above average. Nearly a third of estimated heat-related deaths occurred during a particularly intense heatwave between 17 June and 1 July.

“These numbers are a stark reminder that our hotter, more extreme summers are having an increasingly severe impact on public health,” said Dr Clair Barnes, a researcher at Imperial College London and co-author of the study.

The estimated toll exceeded previous peaks of around 29,000 deaths in summer 2022 and 28,000 in 2003 across the region studied.

How Researchers Estimated The Toll

Researchers modelled the relationship between temperature and mortality across 854 urban areas in the EU, UK, Norway and Switzerland, covering around 40% of the population in the 30 countries studied.

The analysis incorporated temperature records, age, socioeconomic conditions, environmental factors and access to healthcare. By comparing actual temperatures with those expected without human-induced warming, the team estimated the additional deaths attributable to climate change.

Final official mortality figures for summer 2026 are not yet available in many countries, and heat-related deaths are often underreported because their effects can be difficult to identify directly.

Older People Face The Greatest Risk

People aged 85 and over accounted for roughly half of the estimated deaths. However, the impact extended across age groups, with around 800 excess deaths among adults aged 20–44 and approximately 6,000 among people under 65.

Southern Europe experienced the highest mortality burden, reflecting hotter temperatures and other vulnerabilities, including air pollution, limited green space and unequal access to healthcare and heat-alert systems.

Italy, France And Spain Record Highest Toll

Italy recorded an estimated 13,303 heat-related excess deaths, followed by France with 7,268 and Spain with 6,824. Germany recorded around 6,340, while the UK saw an estimated 4,354 deaths.

In the UK, the heat also placed significant pressure on healthcare services. Andrew Hartle, Professor of Practice of Anaesthesia at Imperial College Healthcare, said demand during the summer resembled that of a severe winter virus season.

Cities Urged To Strengthen Heat Protection

Researchers say cities can reduce the risks through climate shelters, external shading and building retrofits, alongside measures to help residents avoid exposure during the hottest hours. Checking on vulnerable people, staying hydrated and following heat alerts are also important.

The researchers stress that adaptation must go hand in hand with reducing fossil fuel use to limit further warming. The findings underline that extreme heat is already a major public-health threat across Europe, with thousands of lives at risk each summer.