AirlineRatings.com, a safety and product rating website, has named Air New Zealand as Airline of the Year 2020.
The Kiwi airline has been honoured for the sixth time for its record-breaking performance, in-flight innovations, operational safety, environmental leadership and motivation of its staff.
Air New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Officer Jeff McDowell says winning the award for a record sixth time is a testament to the efforts of the airline’s 12,500 staff who are focused on delivering a world-class uniquely Kiwi experience to its customers every day.
The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards
Seven editors with over 200 years of industry experience judge the airlines based on their major safety and government audits with 12 key criteria – fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings and staff relations.
AirlineRatings.com Top Twenty Airlines
| 1 | Air New Zealand (Best Premium Economy) |
| 2 | Singapore Airlines (Best First Class) |
| 3 | All Nippon Airways |
| 4 | Qantas (Best Domestic Airline and Best Lounges) |
| 5 | Cathay Pacific (Excellence in Long Haul Travel (Asia)) |
| 6 | Emirates (Best In-Flight Entertainment and Excellence in Long Haul Travel (Middle-East and Africa)) |
| 7 | Virgin Atlantic |
| 8 | EVA Air |
| 9 | Qatar Airways (Best Catering and Best Business Class) |
| 10 | Virgin Australia (Best Cabin Crew and Best Economy Class) |
| 11 | Lufthansa (Excellence in Long Haul Travel (Europe)) |
| 12 | Finnair |
| 13 | Japan Airlines |
| 14 | KLM |
| 15 | Korean Airlines |
| 16 | Hawaiian Airlines |
| 17 | British Airways |
| 18 | Alaska Airlines |
| 19 | Delta Air Lines (Excellence in Long Haul Travel (Americas)) |
| 20 | Etihad Airways |
Other awards include:
| Most Improved Airline | Cebu Pacific |
| Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline | VietJet Air |
| Best Low-Cost Airline (Americas) | JetBlue |
| Best Low-Cost Airline (Europe) | Wizz |
| Best Low-Cost Airline (Middle-East Africa) | Air Arabia |
| Best Low-Cost Airline (Asia/Pacific) | AirAsia / AirAsia X |
