The new list compiled by AirlineRatings.com means Aotearoa’s national carrier, Air New Zealand, has lost the top spot it claimed in 2023. The airline came in fourth place in the 2024 list behind Korean Air and Cathay Pacific Airways.
Air New Zealand did pick up the recognition for Best Economy Class and Excellence in Long Haul travel, Australia/Pacific.
The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards combines major safety and government audits, with 12 key criteria that include: fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, safety rating, product rating, innovation and forward fleet orders.
“In our objective analysis Qatar Airways came out number one in many key areas although it was a very close scoring for the top ten, ” explained AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas.
“The passenger reviews however scored Qatar Airways ahead of all airlines and its consistency and high standard of service delivery came through in the feedback,” Thomas said.
The Top 25 premium airlines are:
- Qatar Airways
- Korean Air
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Air New Zealand
- Emirates
- Air France/ KLM
- All Nippon Airways
- Etihad Airways
- Qantas
- Virgin Australia/Atlantic
- Vietnam Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- EVA Air
- TAP Portugal
- JAL
- Finnair
- Hawaiian,
- Alaska Airlines
- Lufthansa / Swiss
- Turkish Airlines
- IGA Group (British Airways & Iberia)
- Air Canada
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
Other recognitions in the awards:
Best First Class: Singapore Airlines
Best Business Class: Qatar Airways
Best Premium Economy: Emirates
Best Economy Class: Air New Zealand
Best Catering: Qatar Airways
Best Cabin Crew: Virgin Australia
Best-In-Flight Entertainment: Emirates
Best Lounges: Qantas
Best Environmental Airline: Etihad Airways
Excellence in Long Haul travel: Middle East – Qatar Airways, North Asia – Korean Air, Europe – Air France, North America – Air Canada, South America – Latam, Southern Europe – Turkish Airlines, South-East Asia– Cathay Pacific Airways and Australia/Pacific – Air New Zealand.
Best Regional Airline was Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA).
AirlineRatings.com’s Best Low-Cost Airlines are; Americas – Southwest, Middle East – Fly Dubai, Asia – AirAsia Group, Australia/Pacific – Jetstar Group and Europe – easyJet.
Vietjet picked up two awards; Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline and Best Low-Cost Airline Onboard Hospitality which recognize the amazing value of its onboard offering.
AirlineRatings also announced its Top 25 Best Low-Cost Airlines which are in alphabetical order: AirAsia Group, Air Baltic, Air Canada Rouge, Cebu Pacific, easyjet, Eurowings, FlyDubai, FlyNAS, GOL, Jetblue, Jet2, Jetstar Group, Jeju air, Norwegian, Peach, Ryanair, Scoot, Spicejet, Suncountry, Southwest, Transavia, Vietjet, Volotea, Vueling, WizzAir.
