Q TRAVEL (CNN Español) Air New Zealand, whose budget reclining seat concept is causing a sensation, is officially Airline of the Year, at least according to AirlineRatings.com, an Australia-based aviation safety and product ratings agency.
AirlineRatings.com cites AirNZ’s intriguing budget SkyNest beds – due to launch in 2024 – as one of the key factors ranking it number one.
“The airline is always innovating and doesn’t settle for using standard products and seats, but goes a step further,” Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com, told CNN Travel. “It is this focus on the well-being and comfort of economy class travelers that impressed the jury.”
AirlineRatings.com also praised Air New Zealand’s operational safety, environmental leadership and staff motivation.
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Airline Ranking
After a couple of years in which there was a reduction in air travel due to the pandemic, travelers took to the skies in 2022 to find major airline chaos: canceled flights, lost luggage and overworked staff.
The result, according to Thomas, was an “interesting” year overall, as “most airlines suffered declines in passenger approval as the industry struggled to get back to flying.”
It is not yet known if the air transport outlook will be more stable this year. And interestingly, although Air New Zealand was in the lead for 2023, Thomas said the results were very close among the top five airlines.
Qatar Airways, which topped AirlineRatings.com’s ranking last year, came in second this year, also winning Best Business Class, Best Dining and Excellence in Long Haul – Middle East awards.
Etihad Airways, of Abu Dhabi, ranks third on AirlineRatings.com’s 2023 list. Korean Air, which also won the Long-Haul Travel Excellence – North Asia award, ranked fourth. Winner of the Best First Class award and the Excellence in Long Haul – Southeast Asia award, Singapore Airlines ranks fifth overall.
To develop its ratings, AirlineRatings.com examines major government and safety audits, as well as airline fleet age, passenger sentiment, profitability, investment ratio, product offerings, and customer relationships. the staff. Since the awards launched in 2014, Thomas said the scoring and categories have morphed “to reflect the ever-changing dynamics of the industry and customer expectations.”
Air New Zealand is also in the news this week for other reasons. From now until July 2, 2023, the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority asks its national airline to flag passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport.
AirlineRatings.com’s 25 Best Airlines for 2023:
- 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
- United Airlines
