Air New Zealand has continued its winning streak in the airline of the year awards, with its inflight innovations, young fleet and improvements in all cabin classes helping it claim the top spot for the fifth year in a row.

Describing the national carrier as "an industry trendsetter", AirlineRatings.com also praised its strong financial performance, leadership in the environmental space and motivation of staff.

Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of the safety and product rating website, said Air New Zealand's efforts to improve the flight experience for all passengers made it a stand-out.



"What is really impressive is that Air New Zealand has continually innovated in the economy cabin, where most of us travel. The Skycouch and its premium economy are standouts that give thrifty travellers choices and more comfort. So many other airlines just say take it or leave it."

ANDREW GORRI/STUFF The Economy Skycouch was cited as an example of the work Air NZ is doing to improve the flight experience for all passengers.

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The airline's "seemingly endless" innovations also impressed judges, particularly the wristbands which enable parents to keep track of children travelling alone.

"Another was the coffee ordering service in the lounges. Simple things really but so many times they are the things that impress."

AIR NEW ZEALAND Air New Zealand has been praised for its inflight experience.

Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon said the award is "testament to the huge effort from all our people to deliver a world-class Kiwi experience on the ground and in the air.

"Air New Zealand is committed to redefining the customer experience and we are looking forward to unveiling many exciting new initiatives in 2018."



The Kiwi airline has once again out-performed Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways and other major carriers in the annual awards. Airlines are judged on the results of four major international industry and government safety audits and 12 other criteria, including passenger ratings.



Qantas was named the second best airline for 2018, while Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia took our third and fourth places respectively.



Air New Zealand can't rest on its laurels though as AirlineRatings said "it is being pressed by Australia's Qantas and Singapore Airlines, which are both rolling out new aircraft (787s and A350s) and significant revamp of in-flight product".

Thomas said the criteria "measure the heartbeat of an airline", with poor performance often indicating that "more serious problems" lie ahead.

Some airlines are not investing nearly enough in their aircraft or product and have fleets which average 17 years of age or more, despite making record profits, he said.

The average age of Air New Zealand's aircraft is 7.1 years, which Thomas said "is exceptional for a well-established carrier".

How is airline of the year decided?



To be named airline of the year, a carrier must have a seven-star AirlineRatings safety rating. Developed in consultation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the rating involves 11 audits, one measuring 1067 safety features.



The top airline must also have an excellent premium economy section, which Thomas described as "without doubt the best value proposition for the passenger" on long-haul flights.



Air New Zealand - judged to have the best premium economy class - was commended for "continually innovating in all cabins", encouraging passengers to upgrade.



The number one airline also needs to have flat beds with "good mattresses" in business class and to be inventive in improving the passenger experience.



"It can be as simple - and popular - as an automatic coffee ordering system that kicks in as soon as your boarding pass is swiped when entering the airline's lounge. You then get a text message to say it's ready," Thomas said.

The airline of the year must also be serious about minimising its impact on the environment and look after its staff, both in terms of pay and ensuring they are happy in their work.

Serious aircraft incidents are also taken into consideration, "but we're aware great care must be taken in this assessment," Thomas said.

"Was the incident the airline's fault? Take the manufacturing issue that emerged with Qantas QF32 in 2010 when a faulty oil pipe burst in the Rolls-Royce engine of an Airbus A380. Crash investigators found that the skill of the crew saved the aircraft so that would be counted as a plus for the airline, not a negative, " he added.

Passenger ratings on websites such as TripAdvisor and the results of the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards are also taken into account.

All of these factors are combined in a spreadsheet to arrive at the Airline of the Year.

Air New Zealand was also named top airline in the world by Conde Nast Traveler in October. The carrier also picked up a series of accolades in TripAdvisor's inaugural Travellers' Choice awards in April, being named the best airline in the South Pacific and the fifth best in the world and scooping the award for the best premium economy class.

The heartbeat of the airline

Airlines are judged on 13 criteria: rating; safety rating; passenger reviews; fleet age; operating profit; does the airline have premium economy; does it have flat beds in business class; investment grade rating; environmental report; industrial issues; serious incidents; is the airline an innovator and must be a top 50 airline.

Top 10 airlines for 2018

1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Virgin Australia

5. Virgin Atlantic

6. Etihad Airways

7. Nippon Airways

8. Korean Air

9. Cathay Pacific

10. Japan Airlines

Category award winners

Airline of the Year: Air New Zealand

Best First Class: Singapore Airlines

Best Business Class: Virgin Australia

Best Premium Economy: Air New Zealand

Best Economy: Korean Air

Best Cabin Crew: Singapore Airlines

Best Catering: Qantas

Best Lounges: Qantas

Best In-flight Entertainment: Emirates

Best Domestic Class: Qantas

Regional Airline of the Year: Aegan Airlines (Greece)

Most Improved Airline: Tianjin Airlines (China)

Ultra-Low-Cost Airline: VietJetAir.com (Vietnam)

Best Long-Haul Airline: Etihad (for the Middle East and Africa), Korean Air (Asia-Pacific), Virgin Atlantic (Europe) and Air Canada (the Americas)

Best Low-Cost Airline: Westjet (the Americas), Scoot (Asia-Pacific) and Norwegian (Europe).

Do you think Air New Zealand deserves to win? Share your thoughts in the comments.