AirlineRatings names 'most excellent' airlines for 2018

[TruthTheOnlyDefense]

"CNN) — Air New Zealand gets regular kudos for innovating everything from in-flight services to safety videos, its funky films featuring Hobbits and other famous Kiwis.
And now, for the fifth consecutive year, the carrier has come out on top in the annual Airline Excellence Awards, created by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings.
Celebrating the best in the aviation industry -- from budget operators to culinary champions -- the awards named Air New Zealand as Airline of the Year for 2018.
"Air New Zealand came out number one -- or equal first -- in all of our audit criteria, which is an exceptional performance," the AirlineRatings judging panel said.
In-flight product

Air New Zealand won AirlineRatings' "Airline of the Year" award.
Courtesy Air New Zealand From AirlineRatings
The awards take into account four major international industry and government safety audits as well as fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment ratings and key product offerings.
"We also look to see if the airline is an innovator trying new things to improve the passenger experience," says Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com.
In the premium stakes, Singapore Airlines took top spot for First Class -- the airline's name being "synonymous with excellence of in-flight product," according to AirlineRatings.
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Best Business Class went to Virgin Australia for the second consecutive year -- Virgin's "The Business" suite is a luxurious offering -- unrivaled by other executive options.
AirlineRatings also reviewed the economy options -- Air New Zealand won Best Premium Economy, whilst Best Economy went to Korean Air in recognition of its spacious seats.
"Our editorial team places significant importance on premium economy on a long-haul airline," says Thomas. "It is without doubt the best value proposition for the passenger and airline.
Australian airline Qantas also had a good run, winning Best Catering, Best Lounges and Best Domestic Class.
MORE: Check out Singapore Airlines' new luxury suites
Seven-star safety

Singapore Airlines took the top spot for First Class.
Courtesy Singapore Airlines From AirlineRatings
Alongside the Airline Excellence Award winners, AirlineRatings announced its Top 10 airlines for 2018.
The carriers named in the round-up have a seven-star safety rating and have demonstrated their innovation, according to AirlineRatings.
''Whether number one or number 10 these airlines are the best of the best -- the elite in aviation," the judging team commented. "They are the trendsetters and the benchmark by which all others are judged."
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AirlineRatings says its judging team includes experts who've been assessing the world of aviation for 20 years.
While the top airline list favors antipodean carriers, Thomas insists the process is "objective and not open to abuse," with criteria assessed carefully and combined into a spreadsheet to arrive at the award-winners.
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AirlineRatings.com's top 10 airlines for 2018
1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas Airways
3. Singapore Airlines - for me the best airline in the wold awesome.
4. Virgin Australia
5. Virgin Atlantic
6. Etihad Airways
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Japan Airlines

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic....html?iid=ob_article_organicsidebar_expansion

 

[El Sidd]

Lol what a publicity stunt

 

[waz]

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Virgin Atlantic
6. Etihad Airways
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Japan Airlines


Out of that list I'd take Qantas out, they've added more rows to the A380 and other planes they have and it is cramped as hell! The food isn't great either.
Air NZ is top notch, their economy seats are wide and spacious and the service is excellent. All they need now is to do the Haka before they fly.
Singapore airlines are just pure class.
Virgin lol! Just utter trash. The service is poor as pis$$, the food horrible and their seats are like cramped coffins.
Etihad is great.
Korean air is fab.
Cathay Pacific is just gold, exceptional airline, great big seats, lovely food and the best service.
Japan airlines are good, but the seats need sorting.

 

[Dalit]

Lol what a publicity stunt

Such lists need to be taken with a pinch of salt. We don't know what the criteria are and how any airline is chosen to begin with.

It is like how the "prettiest" men and women are announced by random fashion magazines.

 

[TruthTheOnlyDefense]

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Virgin Atlantic
6. Etihad Airways
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Japan Airlines


Out of that list I'd take Qantas out, they've added more rows to the A380 and other planes they have and it is cramped as hell! The food isn't great either.
Air NZ is top notch, they're economy seats are wide and spacious and the service is excellent. All they need now is to do the Haka before they fly.
Singapore airlines are just pure class.
Virgin lol! Just utter trash. The service is poor as pis$$, the food horrible and their seats are like cramped coffins.
Etihad is great.
Korean air is fab.
Cathay Pacific is just gold, exceptional airline, great big seats, lovely food and the best service.
Japan airlines are good, but the seats need sorting.

Yeah I agree Singapore Airlines is just class been at the top of the game for decade now and even Singapore's airport is the best in the world and for a long time.

 

[Jinn Baba]

So it's just coincidence that an Australian based agency rates Air New Zealand and Qantas for top two spots? With Singapore Air and Virgin Australia (that also have massive presence in that region) taking 3rd and 4th spot?

I call BS! Any top 10 list that doesn't include PIA is biased

 

[El Sidd]

Such lists need to be taken with a pinch of salt. It is like how the pretiest men and women are announced by fashion magazines.

Yeah but you know how the gullible are lured.

But the trend is disturbingly boring

 

[VCheng]

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Virgin Atlantic
6. Etihad Airways
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Japan Airlines


Out of that list I'd take Qantas out, they've added more rows to the A380 and other planes they have and it is cramped as hell! The food isn't great either.
Air NZ is top notch, they're economy seats are wide and spacious and the service is excellent. All they need now is to do the Haka before they fly.
Singapore airlines are just pure class.
Virgin lol! Just utter trash. The service is poor as pis$$, the food horrible and their seats are like cramped coffins.
Etihad is great.
Korean air is fab.
Cathay Pacific is just gold, exceptional airline, great big seats, lovely food and the best service.
Japan airlines are good, but the seats need sorting.

I wonder how far down the list is PIA?

 

[waz]

So it's just coincidence that an Australian based agency rates Air New Zealand and Qantas for top two spots? With Singapore Air and Virgin Australia (that also have massive presence in that region) taking 3rd and 4th spot?

I call BS! Any top 10 list that doesn't include PIA is biased

Air NZ is great, I know that from first hand experience. Qantas is bad, and Virgin is horrible. Singapore is just a beautiful experience.

I wonder how far down the list is PIA?

PIA isn't safe to fly. I don't think it can make any list, apart from the most incompetent.

 

[Dalit]

Yeah but you know how the gullible are lured.

But the trend is disturbingly boring

It sure as hell is predictable.

 

[VCheng]

PIA isn't safe to fly. I don't think it can make any list, apart from the most incompetent.

Until a few years ago, almost everyone flying to Pakistan from NA over the winter holidays used PIA. This year, absolutely no one is flying PIA. Zero. How times have changed. It used to be a decent airline for this purpose, not any more. Of the top 10 in that list only Etihaad flies to Pakistan, if I am correct.

 

[El Sidd]

PIA isn't safe to fly.

Lol Pakistan international airlines is as safe as any airline in the world. It has a young fleet.

It sure as hell is predictable.

Everything just get sweeped behind the business sense these days.

 

[TruthTheOnlyDefense]

Air NZ is great, I know that from first hand experience. Qantas is bad, and Virgin is horrible. Singapore is just a beautiful experience.



PIA isn't safe to fly. I don't think it can make any list, apart from the most incompetent.

Yep have flown on Air NZ and they are awesome Singapore Airlines what more can be said just class all around.

 

[jetray]

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Virgin Atlantic
6. Etihad Airways
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Japan Airlines


Out of that list I'd take Qantas out, they've added more rows to the A380 and other planes they have and it is cramped as hell! The food isn't great either.
Air NZ is top notch, they're economy seats are wide and spacious and the service is excellent. All they need now is to do the Haka before they fly.
Singapore airlines are just pure class.
Virgin lol! Just utter trash. The service is poor as pis$$, the food horrible and their seats are like cramped coffins.
Etihad is great.
Korean air is fab.
Cathay Pacific is just gold, exceptional airline, great big seats, lovely food and the best service.
Japan airlines are good, but the seats need sorting.

yup singapore airlines service is really good and consistent.
But I cant agree with cathay pacific, their feeder routes are run by cathay dragon(formerly dragon air) whose service really sucks. I have not seen the consistency of service as given in singapore airlines.

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qantas Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Australia
5. Virgin Atlantic
6. Etihad Airways
7. All Nippon Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Japan Airlines


Out of that list I'd take Qantas out, they've added more rows to the A380 and other planes they have and it is cramped as hell! The food isn't great either.
Air NZ is top notch, they're economy seats are wide and spacious and the service is excellent. All they need now is to do the Haka before they fly.
Singapore airlines are just pure class.
Virgin lol! Just utter trash. The service is poor as pis$$, the food horrible and their seats are like cramped coffins.
Etihad is great.
Korean air is fab.
Cathay Pacific is just gold, exceptional airline, great big seats, lovely food and the best service.
Japan airlines are good, but the seats need sorting.

yup singapore airlines service is really good and consistent.
But I cant agree with cathay pacific, their feeder routes are run by cathay dragon(formerly dragon air) whose service really sucks. I have not seen the consistency of service as given in singapore airlines.

 

[HannibalBarca]

BS... Etihad present and no Qatar Airways, even Emirate is thousand of years ahead of Etihad... At that moment you know it's f*ckup...
And WTH Korean air doing in it and VIRGIN AND QUANTAS!!! ffs...

Anyway... the only one on the list deserving it is Singapore... even thou' their services and quality are not what they use to be...

ps: Airline Rating is Australian...so now you know why the top ones are from that area...
Ps2: Australian airlines have problems with the gulf sisters (Emirate-QatarAirways-Etihad), they are whinning...like the americans...