London - Air New Zealand has been named the best airline in the world by a website that rates carriers on safety and in-flight experience.
The airline has received AirlineRatings.com’s top award for the second consecutive year, beating larger companies and carriers that are synonymous with luxury.
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways was second, and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific third.
Australian carrier Qantas Airways was fourth, followed by Dubai’s Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
Taiwan’s EVA Air, Germany’s Lufthansa, Japan’s All Nippon Airways and British Airways rounded out the top 10.
For value and safety in the budget airline sector, Norwegian Air was judged as the best in Europe, JetBlue in the Americas, kulula.com in the Middle East and Africa, and newcomer Scott in Asia and the Pacific.
The website said it had chosen Air New Zealand because of its in-flight innovations, record financial performance, operational safety, motivated staff and its focus on the environment.
The airline also won the award for the best premium economy class.
Christopher Luxon, chief executive of Air New Zealand, founded in 1940, said: ‘It’s been an incredibly exciting year for Air New Zealand and this award recognises the outstanding efforts of our 11 000 employees globally.
Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com, said: “Quite simply, Air New Zealand is an airline of first choice. And given the airline’s location and the country’s size, its performance is even more remarkable.”
AirlineRatings.com rates the safety and service of 450 airlines and is endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Lufthansa was named Europe’s best long-haul airline.
Qantas won three awards – for best domestic service, best catering and best lounges.
Etihad had the best first class, thanks to its £12 500 (about R220 000) “apartment in the sky”, known as The Residence, and the redesigned first-class cabins on its new fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.
Other winners included Cathay Pacific (best business class), Thai Airways (best economy class), Emirates (best in-flight entertainment) and Virgin Australia (best new world carrier, best cabin crew). – Daily Mail