By 
“For the second consecutive year, Air New Zealand has been named the world’s best airline, hailed as a “”textbook case”” of what a modern airline should be. The experts at AirlineRatings.com praised the Kiwi carrier for its outstanding operational safety and innovative in-flight features, particularly its Skycouch seating, which transforms three economy seats into a couch—perfect for couples or families with a young child.
The airline also earned accolades for its young fleet, environmental focus, and motivated staff. According to Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com, “”Air New Zealand has risen to the top tier of the industry. Despite being 50th in size globally, it is one of the most awarded airlines. It is an airline of first choice, and given its location and the country’s size, its performance is extraordinary.””
Air New Zealand set a new standard for in-flight safety videos, becoming a trendsetter in the industry when it enlisted orcs, hobbits, and elves to demonstrate safety procedures in 2012. This creative approach to a typically mundane task inspired other airlines to jazz up their in-flight videos with music, dance routines, and animations. The airline’s latest safety video even features appearances by Gandalf, Sir Peter Jackson, and Elijah Wood.
In addition to being named the world’s best airline, Air New Zealand also won the award for Best Premium Economy Class.
Here are the winners of the Airline Excellence Awards 2015:
- Best First Class: Etihad Airways
- Best Business Class: Cathay Pacific Airways
- Best Economy: Thai Airways
- Best Lounges, Best Catering, Best Domestic Service: Qantas
- Best In-Flight Entertainment: Emirates
- Best New World Carrier, Best Cabin Crew: Virgin Australia
- Best Long Haul Airline: Etihad (Middle East/Africa), Eva Air (Asia/Pacific), Lufthansa (Europe), and Lan Chile (The Americas)
- Best Low Cost Airline: jetBlue (The Americas), Scoot (Asia/Pacific), Kulula (Middle-East/Africa), and Norwegian (Europe)”