The sky’s the limit for Air New Zealand.
AirlineRatings.com has named Air New Zealand as its Airline of the Year for 2023. New Zealand’s national carrier is on cloud nine having taken the top spot for the seventh time since 2013, nudging out 2021 and 2022 winner Qatar.
The world’s only safety and product rating website’s Airline Excellence Awards are judged by five editors with decades of industry experience. They combine major safety and government audits with 11 key criteria that include: fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings and staff relations.
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Air New Zealand scored big thanks to multi-award winning inflight innovations such as the SkyNext economy beds. A first of its kind, the SkyNest allows economy passengers to lie in flat in bunk bed-style sleeping pods on long haul flights. You can read all about the world-first offering and how much it will set you back here.
When it comes to premium airlines, two of Australia’s airlines placed in the top ten with Qantas coming in at six and Virgin Australia in the seventh spot. Here’s the complete list of top 25 carriers:
- 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 Blye
- JAL
- Vietnam Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- Hawaiian
- KLM
- Alaska Airlines
- United Airlines
Air New Zealand also won Best Economy Class, while Qatar picked up Best Business Class for the fourth year running, along with Best Catering. Singapore Airlines won Best First Class, while Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic was awarded Best Cabin Crew. The Best Premium Economy went to Emirates, while Qantas took out Best Lounges (an obvious one, with the airline investing millions in reopening and upgrading its lounges in Hong Kong and London). Jetstar was also named the Best Low-Cost Airline in the Australia/Pacific region.
Happy flying.
Related story: Air New Zealand reveals cost of Skynest sleeping pods
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