Singapore Airlines loses ‘Best Airline’ title to Air New Zealand

Business Insider reports that Singapore Airlines has lost its title of the ‘World’s Best Airline’ to Air New Zealand.

Judged by seven editors of AirlineRatings.com, the crown of this year’s Airline Excellence Awards was handed to the Kiwi airline.

The title is based on 12 major criteria including fleet age, passenger reviews, operational safety, product offerings, profitability and staff relations.

Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) took the top three places in the 2020 Awards respectively.

Last year, SIA was crowned the world’s best airline but Air New Zealand had won the title five times before it.

Editor in Chief of Airline Ratings, Geoffrey Thomas, said described Air New Zealand as having an “outstanding performance when it’s up against carriers with more resources and scale”.

Qatar Airways took the top spot for the best business class and catering, whilst Virgin Australia had the best economy class and cabin crew.

AirlineRatings.com’s Top 20 Airlines 2020:

1. Air New Zealand
2. Singapore Airlines
3. All Nippon Airways
4. Qantas
5. Cathay Pacific
6. Emirates
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. EVA Air
9. Qatar Airways
10. Virgin Australia
11. Lufthansa
12. Finnair
13. Japan Airlines
14. KLM
15. Korean Airlines
16. Hawaiian Airlines
17. British Airways
18. Alaska Airlines
19. Deltar Air Lines
20. Etihad Airways