Scribble

Airline of the Year 2017: Air New Zealand —

Air New Zealand was named Airline of the Year for the fourth year in a row in AirlineRatings.com's 2017 Airline Excellence Awards. Editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas said the Kiwi airline "came out number one in virtually all of our audit criteria."

Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

Best Cabin Crew: Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic —

Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic held onto their Best Cabin Crew crown. In 2016 AirlineRatings.com praised them as a "benchmark of what cabin service should be."

Courtesy of Virgin/AirlineRatings.com

Best Business Class: Virgin Australia —

Virgin Australia was awarded Best Business Class for 2017, replacing Singapore Airlines at the top of the leaderboard.

Courtesy of Virgin/AirlineRatings.com

Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa): Etihad Airways —

Relative newcomer Etihad Airways has impressed with its premium offerings, which AirlineRatings.com said made it a "major force in the airline industry" in 2016. It won Best First Class and Best Long Haul (Middle East/Africa).

Courtesy of Etihad Airways/AirlineRatings.com

Best In-Flight Entertainment: Emirates Airlines —

Stealing the title from Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines was also awarded Best In-Flight Entertainment for 2017.

Emirates Airlines

Best Domestic Airline Service: Qantas —

Qantas scored a hat trick with three wins in 2017, including Best Domestic Airline Service.

Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com

Best Lounges: Qantas —

Having been an industry leader when it installed showers in its lounges some decades ago, Qantas won fresh praise from AirlineRatings.com in 2016 for its robust broadband Internet access -- something other airlines' lounges fell down on.

Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com

Best Catering: Qantas —

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

Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com

Best Long-Haul Airline (Americas): Delta Airlines —

Delta Airlines has held on to its title of Best Long-Haul Airline in the Americas. AirlineRatings.com's Geoffrey Thomas said in 2016 that Delta Air Lines has emerged as "a new force in international travel with new energy, in-flight product and new aircraft."

Courtesy of Delta Airlines/AirlineRatings.com

Best Long-Haul Airline (Asia): Singapore Airlines —

Singapore Airlines was named Best Long-Haul Airline in Asia. AirlineRatings.com said in 2016, "The airline has always listened to its customers and it shows again and again."

Courtesy of Singapore Airlines/AirlineRatings.com

Value and Safety in Low-Cost Airlines (Asia): Scoot —

Singapore Airlines owns low-cost carrier Scoot, which was awarded for Value and Safety in Low-Cost Airlines (Asia). CNN's Richard Quest (pictured left, in hat) flew with them during his budget round-the-world trip in 2016.

CNN

Norwegian was honored for value and safety in the low-cost airline sector. In April 2016, CNN's Richard Quest named <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F04%2F14%2Faviation%2Fbusiness-traveler-round-the-world-quest%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Norwegian as one to watch </a>due to its expansion into low-cost long-haul.

Value and Safety in Low-Cost Airlines (Asia): Norwegian —

Norwegian was honored for value and safety in the low-cost airline sector. In April 2016, CNN's Richard Quest named Norwegian as one to watch due to its expansion into low-cost long-haul.

Bo Mathisen/Norwegian

Value and Safety in Low-Cost Airlines (Africa): Scoot —

South-African budget airline Kulula.com, known for its striking green livery, launched in 2001. This year it's been honored for value and safety in the low-cost sector.

courtesy kulula

EVA Air: Top 10 airline —

The Taiwanese airline was named one of AirlineRatings.com's top 10 airlines for 2017. It's made headlines for quirky innovations such as its family of Hello Kitty jets.

Courtesy EVA Air