Australian Airlines has named the best airline in the world for 2023

Air New Zealand is officially the airline of the year, at least according to Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings.com. Its economy lie-flat seating concept is making waves.

According to AirlineRatings.com, one of the most important factors in determining AirNZ’s top spot is the intriguing SkyNest economy beds, which will be available for purchase in 2024.

“The airline is always innovating and not content to take off-the-shelf products and seats but go one better,” Geoffrey Thomas, AirlineRatings.com’s editor-in-chief said, crediting Air New Zealand’s dedicated design studio and its output. “It’s this focus on the economy travelers’ wellbeing and comfort that impressed the judges.”

AirlineRatings.com additionally applauded Air New Zealand’s functional security, ecological authority and staff inspiration.

Qatar Airways topped AirlineRatings.com’s 2022 list of ranking airlines. This year the carrier came in at number two.

Following several years of decreased air travel right after the pandemic, voyagers got back to the air in 2022 to huge carrier turmoil – dropped flights, lost baggage and overextended staff.

Because “most airlines suffered declines in passenger approvals as the industry struggled to get into the air,” Thomas described the outcome as an overall “interesting” year.

Whether the air travel landscape will be more stable this year is still up for debate. Additionally, Thomas stated that the results were close among the top five, despite the fact that Air New Zealand emerged victorious for 2023.

This year, Qatar Airways, which also won the awards for Best Business Class, Best Catering, and Excellence in Long Haul Travel – Middle East last year, came in at number two in the AirlineRatings.com ranking.

On AirlineRatings.com’s 2023 list, Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi ranks third. Fourth place went to Korean Air, which also won the Excellence in Long-Haul Travel – North Asia award. The Best First Class and Excellence in Long Haul Travel – Southeast Asia awards went to Singapore Airlines, which finished fifth overall.

AirlineRatings.com looks at major safety and government audits, airline fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations to create its rankings. Since the honors sent off in 2014, Thomas said scoring and classes have transformed “to mirror the steadily changing elements of the business and client assumptions.”

This week, Air New Zealand is also making news for other reasons. The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has requested that its national airline weigh passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport beginning now and continuing until July 2, 2023.