[imagesource:airnz]

Delayed or cancelled flights, poor customer service, uncomfortable seats, and subpar meals – we’re all relatively familiar with what constitutes a bad airline.

As for the good ones? Well, they don’t seem to get as much airtime even though they should because a decent flight can make a world of difference to your travel experience.

TimeOUT notes that the plane carrier review site AirlineRatings.com has revealed its official ranking of the best airlines in the world for 2023, taking into account a huge range of factors including quality of service, safety levels and innovation.

Imagine gliding up the stairs to your economy seat, which also doubles up as a sleep pod, being greeted by the friendliest air host ever, and given the best treatment in the sky as you lie back and enjoy the ride.

That is all possible on the world’s best airline of the year: Air New Zealand:

BREAKING: @FlyAirNZ has been awarded the number one airline airline to fly with in 2023
🥇https://t.co/XtwkD1aOJa

— Airline Ratings (@Airline_ratings) May 30, 2023

Indeed, the airline was also recognised for its in-flight innovations, including its Skynest economy bunk beds, which are the world’s first three-story, lie-flat bunk beds on a commercial airline.

 

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A post shared by Air New Zealand ✈️ (@airnz)

It will be possible to experience these sleep pods when Air New Zealand rolls them out for ultra-long-haul flights in September next year.

That’s not the only reason why the Kiwi airline drew praise. The South African notes how it was also because of their general amazingness across the board, including operational safety, commitment to sustainable flying and staff friendliness:

“Air New Zealand’s commitment to excellence in all facets of its business starts at the top with outstanding governance and one of the best executive teams in aviation through to a workforce that is delivering consistently to the airline’s strategy and customer promise.” Thomas said.

Air New Zealand is no stranger to coming out near the top of these rankings, having scooped the number-one spot seven times already.

For the past two years, though, Qatar Airways has topped the rankings, which means that Air NZ knocked it from its glory this year.

Here are the official top ten airlines in the world in 2023, according to AirlineRatings.com:

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qatar Airways
3. Etihad Airways
4. Korean Air
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Qantas
7. Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic
8. EVA Air
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Emirates

Weird to see Emirates so low down.

You can get more info on the official AirlineRatings.com website.

[source:timeout]