Air New Zealand has been named best airline in the world, but CEO Greg Foran says there is still work to be done. Photo / Supplied.
Air New Zealand has been named best airline in the world, but CEO Greg Foran says there is still work to be done. Photo / Supplied.
Air New Zealand has been crowned the world’s best airline at this year’s Airline Excellence Awards.
It’s the seventh time in the last decade our national carrier has been recognised in the awards for its innovation, this year being honoured for the new SkyNest economy beds, environmental policies, operational safety and staff.
The annual Airline Excellence Awards are judged by five editors with expert industry experience and hosted by the world’s only airline safety and product rating review website, AirlineRatings.com.
Airlines are judged on 12 criteria, such as product offerings, passenger experience, staff relations, fleet age, profitability and investment rating.
Geoffrey Thomas, AirlineRatings.com’s editor-in-chief, said the competition was fierce this year.
“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,” he said.
Air New Zealand, like all airlines, endured significant challenges caused by the pandemic and weather disruptions, Thomas said but added the Kiwi airline had responded well.
Air NZ CEO Greg Foran spoke to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning, saying he was “humbled” by the win, and he was “particularly pleased for the team”.
However, he said despite the win, he doesn’t think Air New Zealand is completely back to pre-Covid performance “at this stage”.
“We’ll reflect on this win, but we’ve got to roll our sleeves up, we’ve got more to do,” he told Hosking. “We know what that has to be, we’ve got work to do on the phones and refunds and reliability of service and getting more seats on, but in terms of this particular award, it’s nice to see things like the innovation and Skynest getting noticed, and sustainability. And of course, we’re investing back in the business and doing it safely. So, a mixed bag.”
The Air NZ Skynest will allow six economy passengers to sleep in the skies. Photo / Supplied
When asked where he saw the airline’s performance on a scale of 1 to 10, Foran told Hosking he thought they “were a six”.
“I want us to have ambition I want us to have aspiration, I want us to set high goals. I think it’s important, not just for Air New Zealand but for New Zealand Inc, and that’s what we’re about”.
Air New Zealand’s new SkyNest sleeping pods - bunk beds in the economy class cabin that will allow passengers to book a few hours’ sleep on ultra-long-haul routes like Auckland to New York - will be launched next year, after five years of development.
The airline also won Best Economy Class, while Best Premium Economy went to Emirates.
Other award categories included best culinary experience, which went to Qatar Airways, who also won Best Catering as well as Best Business Class for the fourth year running.
Classic Arabic mezzo with Arabic bread (L) and Stir-fried egg noodles with grilled chicken breast on Qatar Airways. Photo / Supplied
Top 25 premium airlines for 2023
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.
