SIA, Wilmar the only Singapore companies to make Fortune’s most admired firms list

The national carrier is the only company based here to feature within the top 50 of the list

Chloe Lim
Published Thu, Jan 22, 2026 · 02:01 PM
    • Across global companies, SIA ranked 24th in 2026; it is up by four spots, from 28th place last year.
    • Across global companies, SIA ranked 24th in 2026; it is up by four spots, from 28th place last year. PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN, BT

    [SINGAPORE] National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) ranked first among its peers in the airline industry on Fortune’s 2026 World’s Most Admired Companies list.

    The survey assessed nine criteria, including quality of management, innovation and global competitiveness.

    The other airlines within the top five on the list are Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM Group, United Airlines and Lufthansa Group.

    Across global companies, SIA ranked 24th in 2026. The group is up by four spots, from 28th place last year.

    The airline is now the second-highest-ranked Asian company, just after Japanese car brand Toyota Motors in 23rd place.

    In particular, SIA beat several international aviation giants such as GE Aerospace, Airbus and Lockheed Martin this year.

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    It also came ahead of major global multinational corporations such as Nike, Starbucks, Accenture, Visa, Samsung, Mastercard and UPS.

    SIA is also the only Singapore-based company to feature in the top 50.

    Additionally, agri player Wilmar International is a Singapore-listed name which made the list, too. It fell shy of making the top 50 companies, but it ranks fourth on the list within the global food production sector.

    Wilmar International fell shy of making the top 50 companies, but it ranks fourth on the list within the global food production sector. PHOTO: BT FILE

    The top 10 companies in the global list include a mix major players, mainly in technology and financial services. They are Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway, Costco Wholesale, Alphabet, Walmart and American Express.

    The top 10 companies in the global list include a mix major players, mainly in technology and financial services, such as Apple, Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway. PHOTO: REUTERS

    The 2026 survey was conducted across 3,380 executives, directors and securities analysts internationally, who selected the 10 companies they admire most across industries.

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