Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
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."
Courtesy of Virgin/AirlineRatings.com
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
Virgin Australia was awarded Best Business Class for 2017, replacing Singapore Airlines at the top of the leaderboard.
Courtesy of Etihad Airways/AirlineRatings.com
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).
Emirates Airlines
Stealing the title from Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines was also awarded Best In-Flight Entertainment for 2017.
Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com
Qantas scored a hat trick with three wins in 2017, including Best Domestic Airline Service.
Courtesy of Qantas/AirlineRatings.com
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
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 Delta Airlines/AirlineRatings.com
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 Singapore Airlines/AirlineRatings.com
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."
CNN
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.
Bo Mathisen/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.
courtesy kulula
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 EVA Air
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.
Lucasfilm/ANA
Also a fan of fun livery, as showcased in its family of "Star Wars" jets, All Nippon Airlines also made it into the top 10 list.
Courtesy Cathay Pacific/LoungeBuddy
Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific was honored in the top 10 list for 2017.
Courtesy Lufthansa
Germany's flag carrier and Europe's largest airline, Lufthansa was honored in the top 10 list.
Arthur Widak/Nupar Images via Getty Images
The UK's flag carrier, British Airways, also appeared in AirlineRatings.com's top 10 for 2017.

Story highlights

Air New Zealand named Airline of the Year fourth time in a row

Qantas is runner-up, takes top slot in three categories

CNN  — 

What does New Zealand, home of “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” love better than a blockbusting trilogy?

Hitting the jackpot four times in a row.

Just like when the All Blacks won their fourth Grand Slam in 2010, Air New Zealand has been named 2017 Airline of the Year by AirlineRatings.com in its Airline Excellence Awards, the fourth time it’s taken the title.

The Australia-based website praised the “industry trendsetter” for its record-breaking financial performance, award-winning in-flight innovations, operational safety, environmental leadership and motivation of its staff.

“Air New Zealand came out number one in virtually all of our audit criteria, which is an exceptional performance,” said editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas.

MORE: The world’s most-loved airlines on TripAdvisor

Courtesy Air New Zealand
Breakfast of champions: Air New Zealand impressed across the board.

Qantas scores a hat trick

Also showing passengers a good time is Australian airline Qantas.

Having led the way by installing showers in its lounges several decades ago, Qantas cleaned up in the Best Lounges, Best Catering and Best Domestic Service categories.

If you’re looking for a premium experience, AirlineRatings.com says Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines are the way to go.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad was named Best First Class and Singapore Airlines’ “subtle, elegant, functional and very cozy” Business Class stole the top prize in its category.

Virgin Australia and partner airline Virgin Atlantic also won Best Cabin Crew for the third year in a row.

Emirates, described by AirlineRatings.com as “one of the pioneers in entertaining passengers,” won the award for Best In-Flight Entertainment.

MORE: Richard Quest: 10 things to know about budget airlines

Low cost and long haul

For value and safety in the Low Cost Airline sector the AirlineRatings.com team gave the honors to Virgin America (Americas), Norwegian (Europe), Kulula.com (Africa/Middle-East) and Scoot for Asia/Pacific.

For excellence in Long Haul, the winners were Delta Air Lines (Americas), Lufthansa (Europe), Etihad (Middle East/Africa) and Cathay Pacific Airways for Asia/Pacific.

AirlineRatings.com’s top 10 airlines for 2016

1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Cathay Pacific

5. Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia

6. Emirates

7. EVA Air

8. Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Australia

9. All Nippon Airways

10. Lufthansa