Best in the world for the fifth year running?

Posted on December 16 2018

The 2018 List of the World’s Best Airlines Is Out now!.

The world’s best airline for 2018 has been announced – and the winner is no stranger to the accolade, picking up the top for the fifth time in a row.

Air New Zealand is the recipient of the number one placing by AirlineRatings.com in its annual assessment of the world’s carriers, ranking ahead of its antipodean rivals Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Virgin Australia came fourth ahead of Virgin Atlantic in fifth, while Etihad, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Korean Air, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines completed the top 10.

Europe’s only entry to the top 10 was Virgin Atlantic, which was praised for its “in-flight product and service”

The world’s best airlines according to AirlineRatings.com were placed as follow

1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Virgin Australia

5. Virgin Atlantic

6. Etihad Airways

7. All Nippon Airways

8. Korean Air

9. Cathay Pacific

10. Japan Airlines

To find the best airline in the world, the Aussie airline safety and product review site’s veteran team of eight editors settled on 13 criteria which they believe represent the “heartbeat of the airline.”

They include: product rating, safety rating, passenger reviews, fleet age, profitability, whether the airline offers premium economy, whether it offers flatbed seats in business class, does the company hold an investment grade rating, its performance on environmental report, does it have labor issues, has it been involved in any serious incidents, is the airline an innovator, and it must be a top 50 ranked airline.

“Whether number one or number 10, these airlines are the best of the best – the elite in aviation,” the judging team said.