After COVID restrictions relaxed and we learnt to live with the virus, Australians took to the skies and especially more so in 2023. For those looking at what airline to fly, AirlineRatings.com, the world’s only safety and product rating website has just released the latest winners of their annual awards with Air New Zealand taking top spot as its Airline of the Year for 2023.

Air New Zealand is being honoured for the seventh time since 2013 for its multi-award-winning in-flight innovations such as the SkyNest economy beds, operational safety, environmental leadership and motivation of its staff.

Air New Zealand nudged out previous winner Qatar Airways (2021, 2022) Etihad Airways, Korean Air and Singapore Airlines for the top spot.

The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, judged by five editors with decades of industry experience, combines major safety and government audits, with 11 key criteria that include: fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations.

Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said: “In our objective analysis Air New Zealand came out number one in many key areas although it was a very close scoring for the top five.”

The Top 25 premium airlines are: Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa / Swiss, SAS, TAP Portugal, All Nippon Airways, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, British Airways, Jet Blue, JAL, Vietnam Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Hawaiian, KLM, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.

Air New Zealand won Best Economy Class while Qatar Airways picked up Best Business Class for the fourth year running and Best Catering.

Singapore Airlines one Best First Class, while Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic won Best Cabin Crew. Best-In-Flight Entertainment and Best Premium Economy went to Emirates, while Qantas picked up Best Lounges.

Excellence in Long Haul travel: Middle East - Qatar Airways, North Asia – Korean Air, Northern Europe – Lufthansa, North America – Delta Air Lines, South America – Latam, Southern Europe – Turkish Airlines, South-East Asia– Singapore Airlines, Australia/Pacific – Air New Zealand, African Airline – Air Mauritius. 

AirlineRatings.com Best Low-Cost Airlines are; Americas – Southwest, Middle East – Fly Dubai, Asia – AirAsia, Australia/Pacific – Jetstar and Europe – Ryanair.  

Vietjet picked up two awards; Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline and Best Low-Cost Airline Catering which recognizes the amazing value of its onboard offering.



AirlineRatings also announced its Top Twenty Five Low-Cost Airlines which can be viewed on its website www.AirlineRatings.com.