Air New Zealand Named the Best Airline for 2020
When it comes to safety, amenities, flight entertainment and comfort, the best of the best for travel for the new year was found in New Zealand.
According AirlineRatings.com’s annual best airlines list for 2020, Air New Zealand came out on top.
The carrier beat out last year’s winner, Singapore Airlines, which came in second place. The ratings were based on things like major safety and government audits as well as passenger reviews and product offerings, according to the site.
“In our analysis, Air New Zealand came out number one in most of our audit criteria, which is an outstanding performance when it’s up against carriers with more resources and scale on this same list of best airlines for 2020,” Airline Ratings Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said in a statement. “Air New Zealand’s commitment to excellence in all facets of its business starts at the top with outstanding governance and one of the best executive teams in aviation through to a workforce that is delivering consistently to the airline’s strategy and customer promise.”
When it came to having the best first class, however, Singapore snagged the top spot for the carrier’s suites, which the group classified as “the equivalent of small hotel rooms.” At 50-square-feet each with a swivel armchair and a twin-size bed, they definitely beat cramped economy seats.
Qatar Airways, which came in ninth on the overall ratings list, took first place for best catering as well as best business class with its Qsuites, which Thomas called “a first-class experience in business class.
“It leaves little to chance, and our judges rated it as one of the best overall business-class products they had seen,” he added about the Qsuites. “It sets a standard to which some airlines can only aspire.”
And for the best on-the-ground experience, look no further than Qantas, which the group awarded as having the best lounges in the world.
In terms of budget airlines, JetBlue was top (it also happens to be Travel + Leisure’s No. 1 domestic airline), followed by Wizz Air, named one of the fastest growing airlines last year.
Here is the full list of AirlineRatings.com’s top 20 airlines in the world:
Air New Zealand
Singapore Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Qantas
Cathay Pacific Airways
Emirates
Virgin Atlantic
EVA Air
Qatar Airways
Virgin Australia
Lufthansa
Finnair
Japan Airlines
KLM
Korean Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
British Airways
Alaska Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Etihad Airways
