Singapore Airlines (SIA) slips to number two as the best airline in 2020 awards at the Airline Excellence Awards. Taking back the number one spot from last year’s winner Singapore Airlines, this is Air New Zealand’s sixth time winning the travel award. Assessed based on a range of factors including safety, environmental leadership and motivation of its staff, Air New Zealand been given the top award according to airline safety and product review website AirlineRatings.
Geoffrey Thomas, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF AIRLINERATINGS.COM said: “ In our analysis, Air New Zealand came out number one in most of our audit criteria, which is an outstanding performance when it is up against carriers with more resources and scale”.
The Airline Excellence Awards cover the best of the best in the aviation world, recognizing the swankiest airline lounges, finest first-class cabins and most exciting in-flight entertainment. The award judged by seven editors with over 200 years of combined industry experience, along with combined significant safety and government audits, include 12 key criteria to determine the winner, that include fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations.
We’re not ones to blow our own trumpet, but today we can’t help it. We’ve just been named Airline Of The Year 2020, for the sixth time! Thanks to our amazing customers who make us smile every day. We love being part of our journey ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9A6GDMJga5
— Air New Zealand✈️ (@FlyAirNZ) November 25, 2019
With Qantas currently in the middle of a series of test flights for its 19-hour stretch from London to Sydney, came in at number four on the overall ranking, but also managed to pick up gongs for the Best Domestic Airline Service and Best Lounges.
Here are the top 10 round-up winners:
- Air New Zealand
- Singapore Airlines
- All Nippon Airways
- Qantas
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Emirates
- Virgin Atlantic
- EVA Air
- Qatar Airways
- Virgin Australia
Other than the overall round-up winners, Air New Zealand also bagged Best premium economy award, while last years Best airline winner- Singapore Airlines won the Best first-class award. Qatar also managed to bag Best business class and Best catering awards. Emirates took the Best inflight entertainment and Best long-haul middle east, while Virgin Australia won Best economy and Best cabin crew.
The Excellence in long haul travel was given to Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates and Cathy Pacific. And the Best low-cost airline was awarded to JetBlue (America), Wizz (Europe) and AirAsia / AirAsia X (Asia Pacific) and Air Arabia (Middle-East and Africa).
