AirlineRatings names ‘most excellent’ airlines for 2016

Maureen O'Hare
By Maureen O'Hare, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 10:12 AM EST, Tue December 1, 2015
Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic were awarded Best Cabin Crew in AirlineRatings.com's <a href="http://www.airlineratings.com/news/615/worlds-best-airlines-for-2016" target="_blank" target="_blank">2016 Airline Excellence Awards</a>. AirlineRatings.com praises them as a "benchmark of what cabin service should be."
Best Cabin Crew —
Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic were awarded Best Cabin Crew in AirlineRatings.com's 2016 Airline Excellence Awards. AirlineRatings.com praises them as a "benchmark of what cabin service should be."
Courtesy of Virgin/AirlineRatings.com
Air New Zealand was voted Airline of the Year for the third year in a row. It scored points for innovations like the Economy Skycouch (pictured): a row of three economy seats with footrests that lift to create a flexible space.
Airline of the Year 2016 —
Air New Zealand was voted Airline of the Year for the third year in a row. It scored points for innovations like the Economy Skycouch (pictured): a row of three economy seats with footrests that lift to create a flexible space.
Courtesy Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand also won awards for Best Economy and Best Premium Economy (pictured). AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas says: "The airline has rolled out some stunning new technology including innovative tracking of unaccompanied children and a wonderful app to get you a perfect cup of coffee before your flight."
Best Premium Economy Class —
Air New Zealand also won awards for Best Economy and Best Premium Economy (pictured). AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas says: "The airline has rolled out some stunning new technology including innovative tracking of unaccompanied children and a wonderful app to get you a perfect cup of coffee before your flight."
Courtesy of Air New Zealand/AirlineRatings.com
Qantas scored a hat trick with three wins in this year's Airline Excellence Award, including Best Domestic Service. It was runner-up to Air New Zealand as the airline of the year.
Best Domestic Service —
Qantas scored a hat trick with three wins in this year's Airline Excellence Award, including Best Domestic Service. It was runner-up to Air New Zealand as the airline of the year.
Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com
Having been an industry leader when it installed showers in its lounges some decades ago, Qantas won fresh praise from AirlineRatings.com for its robust broadband Internet access -- something other airlines' lounges fell down on.
Best Lounges —
Having been an industry leader when it installed showers in its lounges some decades ago, Qantas won fresh praise from AirlineRatings.com for its robust broadband Internet access -- something other airlines' lounges fell down on.
Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com
Qantas won Best Catering for the second year in a row. It offers four main meal options in economy class and customers can order online ahead of the flight.
Best Catering —
Qantas won Best Catering for the second year in a row. It offers four main meal options in economy class and customers can order online ahead of the flight.
Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com
Relative newcomer Etihad Airways has impressed with its premium offerings, which AirlineRatings.com says has made it a "major force in the airline industry." It won Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa).
Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa) —
Relative newcomer Etihad Airways has impressed with its premium offerings, which AirlineRatings.com says has made it a "major force in the airline industry." It won Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa).
Courtesy of Etihad Airways/AirlineRatings.com
"Subtle, elegant, functional and very cozy" is AirlineRatings.com's verdict on Singapore Airlines' revamped business offering. "The airline has always listened to its customers and it shows again and again."
Best Business Class —
"Subtle, elegant, functional and very cozy" is AirlineRatings.com's verdict on Singapore Airlines' revamped business offering. "The airline has always listened to its customers and it shows again and again."
Courtesy of Singapore Airlines/AirlineRatings.com
Singapore Airlines was an inflight entertainment pioneer in the '90s, when it fitted out all its economy seats with the IFE system it calls KrisWorld. It now offers 1,000 on-demand options.
Best In-Flight Entertainment —
Singapore Airlines was an inflight entertainment pioneer in the '90s, when it fitted out all its economy seats with the IFE system it calls KrisWorld. It now offers 1,000 on-demand options.
Courtesy of Singapore Airlines/AirlineRatings.com
Thomas says that Virgin Australia has "taken what matters to customers and given it a touch of luxury." Originally named Virgin Blue, the airline has been in service since 2000.
Best New World Carrier —
Thomas says that Virgin Australia has "taken what matters to customers and given it a touch of luxury." Originally named Virgin Blue, the airline has been in service since 2000.
Courtesy of Virgin/AirlineRatings.com
AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas says that Delta Air Lines is emerging as "a new force in international travel with new energy, in-flight product and new aircraft."
Best Long Haul Airlines (Americas) —
AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas says that Delta Air Lines is emerging as "a new force in international travel with new energy, in-flight product and new aircraft."
Courtesy of Delta Airlines/AirlineRatings.com
2016 Airline Excellence Awards
CNN  — 

Its star-studded safety videos show the airline making happy customers of everyone from hulking sports stars to pocket-sized hobbits.

But Air New Zealand isn’t just leading the way in viral hits.

Australia-based website AirlineRatings.com has named Air New Zealand the 2016 Airline of the Year in its prestigious Airline Excellence Awards.

The “industry trendsetter” was praised for its award-winning inflight innovations, operational safety and environmental leadership.

It’s the third time in a row it’s won the title, and this year it scored another triple with wins in the Best Premium Economy Class and Best Economy Class categories.

AirlineRatings credited Air NZ advances like the Premium Economy Spaceseat, designed so the person in front can’t lean into a passenger’s space, and the Skycouch, a row of three economy seats with footrests that lift up to create a flexible space for young families or couples.

Qantas has doubled size of economy meals

Also showing passengers a good time is Australian airline Qantas.

Having led the way by installing showers in its lounges several decades ago, Qantas cleaned up in the Best Lounges, Best Catering and Best Domestic Service categories.

AirlineRatings.com was impressed by the new Qantas lounges in Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

There was also praise for the Aussie carrier’s robust broadband Internet access – something a lot of other carriers fell down on.

Some 90% of Qantas passengers fly economy and the airline hasn’t forgotten that the way to the customer’s heart is through the stomach.

It offers a choice of four main meal options and has doubled the size of meals.

The world’s best airport is…

Breakfast of champions: Air New Zealand impressed across the board.
Breakfast of champions: Air New Zealand impressed across the board.
Courtesy Air New Zealand

Best luxury travel

If you’re looking for a premium experience, AirlineRatings.com says Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines are the way to go.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad was named Best First Class and Singapore Airlines’ “subtle, elegant, functional and very cozy” Business Class stole the top prize in its category.

Singapore Airlines won the award for Best In-Flight Entertainment for its 1,000 on-demand options.

Virgin Australia and partner airline Virgin Atlantic won Best Cabin Crew for the second year in a row, and Virgin Australia was named Best New World Carrier.

The best inflight experiences of 2015

Low cost and long haul

For value and safety in the Low Cost Airline sector the AirlineRatings.com team gave the honors to Virgin America (Americas), Norwegian (Europe), Kulula.com (Africa/Middle-East) and Scoot for Asia/Pacific.

For excellence in Long Haul, the winners were Delta Air Lines (Americas), Lufthansa (Europe), Etihad (Middle East/Africa) and Cathay Pacific Airways for Asia/Pacific.

AirlineRatings.com’s top 10 airlines for 2016

1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Etihad

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Singapore Airlines

6. Emirates

7. EVA Air

8. Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia

9. All Nippon Airways

10. Lufthansa