AirlineRatings.com, the renowned safety and product rating website, declared Air New Zealand the prestigious Airline of the Year for 2023, marking its seventh victory since 2013. This well-deserved accolade recognizes the airline’s exceptional in-flight innovations, such as the SkyNest economy beds, and its unwavering commitment to operational safety, environmental stewardship, and staff motivation.
Air New Zealand claimed the top spot in a highly competitive field by outshining previous winners Qatar Airways and other formidable contenders, including Etihad Airways, Korean Air, and Singapore Airlines.
The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, evaluated by five esteemed editors boasting decades of industry experience, take into account foremost safety and government audits, combined with 11 critical criteria. These criteria include fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each airline’s performance.
Geoffrey Thomas, the Editor-in-Chief of www.AirlineRatings.com, expressed, “Through our meticulous analysis, Air New Zealand emerged as the clear winner in numerous key areas, though the scores were quite close among the top five.”
The list of the Top 25 premium airlines encompasses Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa/Swiss, SAS, TAP Portugal, All Nippon Airways, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, British Airways, Jet Blue, JAL, Vietnam Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Hawaiian, KLM, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines.
In addition to being crowned Airline of the Year, Air New Zealand also secured the title of Best Economy Class. On the other hand, Qatar Airways continued its reign as the Best Business Class for the fourth consecutive year and earned recognition for its outstanding catering service.
Singapore Airlines claimed the prestigious award for Best First Class, while Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic was honoured with the Best Cabin Crew title. Emirates received Best-In-Flight Entertainment and Best Premium Economy accolades, while Qantas was recognized for its exceptional lounges.
The excellence in long-haul travel was acknowledged as follows: Qatar Airways in the Middle East, Korean Air in North Asia, Lufthansa in Northern Europe, Delta Air Lines in North America, Latam in South America, Turkish Airlines in Southern Europe, Singapore Airlines in South-East Asia, Air New Zealand in Australia/Pacific, and Air Mauritius as the top African airline.
AirlineRatings.com also presented awards for the Best Low-Cost Airlines, with Southwest Airlines securing the top spot in the Americas, Fly Dubai in the Middle East, AirAsia in Asia, Jetstar in Australia/Pacific, and Ryanair in Europe. Vietjet, renowned for its incredible value onboard offerings, received recognition in Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline and Best Low-Cost Airline Catering.
For a comprehensive list of the Top Twenty-Five Low-Cost Airlines, please visit the AirlineRatings.com website.
This remarkable achievement by Air New Zealand highlights its unwavering dedication to providing an exceptional travel experience for its passengers while setting new standards of excellence within the aviation industry.
Written by: Christine Nguyen
