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AirlineRatings names ‘most excellent’ airlines for 2018

By Francesca Street, CNN
Updated 5:40 AM EST, Mon November 6, 2017
<strong>10. Japan Airlines</strong>: AirlineRatings.com, the Australia-based safety and product rating agency, has announced its top airlines for 2019. Rounding out the top 10 is Japan Airlines. Click through the gallery to discover which airline soared highest.
10. Japan Airlines: AirlineRatings.com, the Australia-based safety and product rating agency, has announced its top airlines for 2019. Rounding out the top 10 is Japan Airlines. Click through the gallery to discover which airline soared highest.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>9. Cathay Pacific</strong>: Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific reached number nine on the list, the same position as last year. "The airline is a byword for operational excellence," says AirlineRatings.
9. Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific reached number nine on the list, the same position as last year. "The airline is a byword for operational excellence," says AirlineRatings.
Christian Keenan/Getty Images
<strong>8. EVA Air: </strong>Taiwanese airline EVA Air is at number eight. AirlineRatings spotlights the carrier's new aircraft, new routes and recent cabin innovations.
8. EVA Air: Taiwanese airline EVA Air is at number eight. AirlineRatings spotlights the carrier's new aircraft, new routes and recent cabin innovations.
EVA Air courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>7. All Nippon Airways:</strong> Another Japanese carrier -- All Nippon Airways -- clocks in at number seven. "Its attention to detail is quite extraordinary," says AirlineRatings.
7. All Nippon Airways: Another Japanese carrier -- All Nippon Airways -- clocks in at number seven. "Its attention to detail is quite extraordinary," says AirlineRatings.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>6. Emirates: </strong>Dubai-based carrier Emirates comes in at number six. AirlineRatings calls Emirates an industry benchmark in cabin innovation, highlighting its inflight entertainment -- which it also won an award for.
6. Emirates: Dubai-based carrier Emirates comes in at number six. AirlineRatings calls Emirates an industry benchmark in cabin innovation, highlighting its inflight entertainment -- which it also won an award for.
Emirates courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>5. Virgin Australia: </strong>Virgin Australia takes fifth place -- it also won Best Cabin Crew. AirlineRatings spotlights Virgin Australia's "economy X," premium economy, and standout business class.
5. Virgin Australia: Virgin Australia takes fifth place -- it also won Best Cabin Crew. AirlineRatings spotlights Virgin Australia's "economy X," premium economy, and standout business class.
Courtesy Virgin Australia From AirlineRatings
<strong>4. Qatar Airways: </strong>Apparently it was the great food and wine that secured Qatar Airways a spot in the top 10. The airline also won Best Business Class and Best Catering.
4. Qatar Airways: Apparently it was the great food and wine that secured Qatar Airways a spot in the top 10. The airline also won Best Business Class and Best Catering.
Qatar Airways courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>3. Qantas: </strong>Qantas reached number three on the countdown. The airline also won Best Domestic Airline Service and coveted Best Lounges.
3. Qantas: Qantas reached number three on the countdown. The airline also won Best Domestic Airline Service and coveted Best Lounges.
Courtesy Qantas From AirlineRatings
<strong>2. Air New Zealand: </strong>Air New Zealand was number one on AirlineRatings.com's list for the past five years. It's slipped down -- ever so slightly -- to number two.
2. Air New Zealand: Air New Zealand was number one on AirlineRatings.com's list for the past five years. It's slipped down -- ever so slightly -- to number two.
PETER PARKS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>1. Singapore Airlines: </strong>For the first time in a long time, another carrier has pipped Air New Zealand to the post. "Quite simple the airline is the gold standard," says AirlineRatings.
1. Singapore Airlines: For the first time in a long time, another carrier has pipped Air New Zealand to the post. "Quite simple the airline is the gold standard," says AirlineRatings.
Singapore Airlines courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>Best for budget:</strong> In the Americas, AirlineRatings says WestJet offers the Best Budget Service.
Best for budget: In the Americas, AirlineRatings says WestJet offers the Best Budget Service.
Courtesy WestJet from AirlineRatings
<strong>Hot seats: </strong>AirlineRatings says Korean Air has the Best Economy Cabins. The Korean airline nabbed this honor last year too -- it's been praised for its spacious seats.
Hot seats: AirlineRatings says Korean Air has the Best Economy Cabins. The Korean airline nabbed this honor last year too -- it's been praised for its spacious seats.
Courtesy Korean Air From AirlingRatings
<strong>Long haul leaders:</strong> Air New Zealand also took home the award for the Excellence in Long Haul travel (Pacific) division.
Long haul leaders: Air New Zealand also took home the award for the Excellence in Long Haul travel (Pacific) division.
Courtesy Air New Zealand From AirlineRatings
<strong>Best First Class: </strong>Not only did Singapore Airlines win best overall airline, the carrier was the winner of Best First Class.
Best First Class: Not only did Singapore Airlines win best overall airline, the carrier was the winner of Best First Class.
Courtesy Singapore Airlines From AirlineRatings
<strong>Best Airline Middle East/Africa: </strong>Emirates also got the award for Best Airline in the Middle East/Africa.
Best Airline Middle East/Africa: Emirates also got the award for Best Airline in the Middle East/Africa.
Emirates courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>Inflight entertainment:</strong> Emirates won Best Inflight Entertainment this year and remains a leader in that field, according to AirlineRatings. "Today its IFE platform ICE is in a class of its own," says AirlineRatings.
Inflight entertainment: Emirates won Best Inflight Entertainment this year and remains a leader in that field, according to AirlineRatings. "Today its IFE platform ICE is in a class of its own," says AirlineRatings.
Emirates courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>Excellence in Long Haul travel -- Europe</strong>: German airline Lufthansa won the gong for Excellence in Long Haul Travel in Europe.
Excellence in Long Haul travel -- Europe: German airline Lufthansa won the gong for Excellence in Long Haul Travel in Europe.
Lufthansa courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>Best Domestic Airline Service and Best Lounge: </strong>AirlineRatings highlights Qantas' all-time high customer approval rating and innovative Perth to London nonstop service.
Best Domestic Airline Service and Best Lounge: AirlineRatings highlights Qantas' all-time high customer approval rating and innovative Perth to London nonstop service.
Qantas courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>Catering dream</strong>: Qatar Airways picked up Best Catering and Best Business Class. "The airline's Qsuite is a first-class experience in business class," says Airline Ratings. "It leaves little to chance and our judges rated it as one of the best overall business-class products they had seen."
Catering dream: Qatar Airways picked up Best Catering and Best Business Class. "The airline's Qsuite is a first-class experience in business class," says Airline Ratings. "It leaves little to chance and our judges rated it as one of the best overall business-class products they had seen."
Qatar Airways courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
<strong>Virgin Australia: </strong>Virgin Australia was another big winner, the Aussie carrier won Best Cabin Crew.
Virgin Australia: Virgin Australia was another big winner, the Aussie carrier won Best Cabin Crew.
Virgin Australia courtesy of AirlineRatings.com
AirlineRatings names 'most excellent' airlines for 2019
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.

The carrier has pipped Air New Zealand to be named Airline of the Year by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings, in the company’s annual Airline Excellence Awards.

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.

“For years Singapore Airlines has been the gold standard and now it is back to its best leading in passenger innovations and new state-of-the-art aircraft models,” says AirlineRatings editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas.

In-flight product

Air New Zealand won AirlineRatings' "Airline of the Year" award.
Air New Zealand won AirlineRatings' "Airline of the Year" award.
Courtesy Air New Zealand From AirlineRatings

The awards are compiled using major international industry and government safety audits, plus 12 key criteria including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment ratings, staff relations and product offerings.

“In our objective analysis Singapore Airlines came out number one in many of our audit criteria, which is a great performance,” explains Thomas.

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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Economy options were also awarded. For the second year running, KoreanAir was recognized for its spacious seats. Westjet was crowned the Best Low-Cost Airline in the Americas, Wizz won for Europe and AirAsia / AirAsia X for Asia/Pacfic.

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.
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 2019

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

1. Singapore Airlines

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