Air NZ named best in world, again

The first to be delivered in the world, Air New Zealand's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arrives at Auckland Airport. Photo / Peter Meecham

Air New Zealand has been chosen by website AirlineRatings.com as the airline of the year for the second year running.

The site, which assesses safety and products on 450 carriers, said in-flight innovations, financial performance, operational safety and motivation of its staff had stamped the airline an industry trendsetter.

The airline also had a commitment to a young technologically advanced fleet and its continual focus on the environment, said AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas.

The airline also won best premium economy class.

"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," said Thomas
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the award recognised the efforts of 11,000 employees globally.

"We've invested in new aircraft and enhancements to the customer experience and continued our strong focus on cost control and operational excellence."

It's been a good past week for the airline which won the company of the year award at the Deloitte Top 200 Awards, announced last Thursday.

The airline is celebrating its 75th anniversary next year. In the last financial year it year its profit increased by 44.75 per cent to $262 million and has said it is on course for an even better result in the current year.

Qantas won the award for the best domestic service, best catering and best lounges.

The awards, judged by a panel of editors, noted that Qantas was consistently amongst the finest airlines in the industry across all aspects of service delivery and operational safety.

Etihad Airways was voted best first class while Cathay Pacific picked up best business class.

Best economy class went to Thai Airways and best in-flight entertainment to Emirates.

Virgin Australia won best "New World Carrier,' an award that recognises the transformation that many airlines are trying to meet rapidly changing market demands.
Virgin Australia is challenging dominant domestic operator Qantas for the corporate market and has formed an alliance with Air New Zealand - which owns 26 per cent of it - that has allowed it to better manage its transtasman operation.

Virgin also picked up best cabin crew, who offered outstanding service.

For value and safety in the low cost airline sector the editors selected JetBlue for the Americas, Norwegian in Europe, Kulula.com for the Middle-East/Africa and newcomer Scoot for Asia/Pacific.

For excellence in long haul travel the editors selected Lan Chile for the Americas, Lufthansa for Europe, Etihad for the Middle-East/Africa and EVA Air for Asia-Pacific.
AirlineRatings was launched in June 2013 and rates the safety and uses a seven-star rating system.

Its safety rating system is endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The Top 10 Airlines
1. Air New Zealand
2. Etihad
3. Cathay Pacific
4. Qantas
5. Emirates
6. Singapore Airlines
7. EVA Air
8. Lufthansa
9. All Nippon Airways
10. British Airways