
Best Cabin Crew —
Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic were awarded Best Cabin Crew in AirlineRatings.com's 2016 Airline Excellence Awards. AirlineRatings.com praises them as a "benchmark of what cabin service should be."

Airline of the Year 2016 —
Air New Zealand was voted Airline of the Year for the third year in a row. It scored points for innovations like the Economy Skycouch (pictured): a row of three economy seats with footrests that lift to create a flexible space.

Best Premium Economy Class —
Air New Zealand also won awards for Best Economy and Best Premium Economy (pictured). AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas says: "The airline has rolled out some stunning new technology including innovative tracking of unaccompanied children and a wonderful app to get you a perfect cup of coffee before your flight."

Best Domestic Service —
Qantas scored a hat trick with three wins in this year's Airline Excellence Award, including Best Domestic Service. It was runner-up to Air New Zealand as the airline of the year.

Best Lounges —
Having been an industry leader when it installed showers in its lounges some decades ago, Qantas won fresh praise from AirlineRatings.com for its robust broadband Internet access -- something other airlines' lounges fell down on.

Best Catering —
Qantas won Best Catering for the second year in a row. It offers four main meal options in economy class and customers can order online ahead of the flight.

Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa) —
Relative newcomer Etihad Airways has impressed with its premium offerings, which AirlineRatings.com says has made it a "major force in the airline industry." It won Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa).

Best Business Class —
"Subtle, elegant, functional and very cozy" is AirlineRatings.com's verdict on Singapore Airlines' revamped business offering. "The airline has always listened to its customers and it shows again and again."

Best In-Flight Entertainment —
Singapore Airlines was an inflight entertainment pioneer in the '90s, when it fitted out all its economy seats with the IFE system it calls KrisWorld. It now offers 1,000 on-demand options.

Best New World Carrier —
Thomas says that Virgin Australia has "taken what matters to customers and given it a touch of luxury." Originally named Virgin Blue, the airline has been in service since 2000.

Best Long Haul Airlines (Americas) —
AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas says that Delta Air Lines is emerging as "a new force in international travel with new energy, in-flight product and new aircraft."


