Which?, Skytrax award recipients announced

Air New Zealand has been named Best Airline at the 2010 Which? Awards, presented for leading customer service by the UK’s top consumer magazine.

The judges said Air New Zealand performed exceptionally well in the latest Which? Airline satisfactions survey, scoring a five-star rating out of five in almost every category including the quality of its online check-in, seat allocation, boarding arrangements, cleanliness, inflight entertainment and cabin staff.

Air New Zealand received a value-for-money rating of 89 per cent, well above the industry average of 66 per cent.

Singapore Airlines and Emirates Airline were finalists for the awards.

Air New Zealand has also picked up two Skytrax Awards for the Best Airline Australia/Pacific and the Staff Service Excellence Award for the Australia/Pacific region.

The Skytrax Awards for World’s Best First Class, Best First Class Airline Seat and Best First Class Onboard Catering went to Etihad Airways.

The Skytrax Awards were announced in Hamburg and were based on the feedback received from 17.9 million air travellers of 100 different nationalities over a 10-month period between July 2009 and April 2010.

Asiana Airlines was named Airline of the Year, while Air Asia picked up World’s Best Low-Cost Airline.

Qantas picked up World’s Best Premium Economy Class and Best Airline Seat - Premium Economy Class.

The Best Low-Cost Airline Australia/Pacific went to Virgin Blue.

The Oneworld Alliance was named Best Airline Alliance.

Garuda Indonesia was named World’s Most Improved Airline.

Qatar Airways took out World’s Best and Best Onboard Catering for its Business Class, while Singapore Airlines received the award for World's Best Cabin Staff.

The full list of Skytrax 2010 World Airline Awards recipients can be found at http://www.worldairlineawards.com/Awards-2010/AZwinners.htm