AirlineRatings.com recently announced their choices for 20 Top Airlines in the World for 2020. This list is only a part of the product and safety rating website’s yearly Airline Excellence Awards, which also features winners in 13 different categories and “the best overall.” To be eligible for nomination an airline must “demonstrate leadership in innovation for passenger comfort” and garner a seven-star safety rating.

The airlines in question must also demonstrate consistency in staff engagement and service. The seven-editor team utilizes the following criteria to determine its annual rankings:

Staff relations
Profitability
Product offerings
Passenger reviews
Investment rating
Fleet age

Without further adieu here are the world’s best airlines for 2020:

1. Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand bumped Singapore Airlines out of the top spot this year. The kiwi airline is the country’s flag carrier airline. Based in Auckland, the airline has charted six times now for its performance and has scored several awards for its in-flight innovations, environmental leadership, operational safety, and staff motivation.

They have booked passenger flights to a total of 20 domestic and 32 international locations in 20 countries, mainly in the area of the Pacific Rim. Air New Zealand has been an official member of the well-known Star Alliance since 1999.

2. Singapore Airlines

Up next at number two, is Singapore Airlines. This is the flag carrier of Singapore. Its hub is located at the Singapore Changi Airport.

This company is reportedly “always at the forefront” when it comes to airline awards. In the past two years, it has been praised for its introduction of its new 787-10 and A350 and revamping of its A380s. The airline offers flights to 60+ destinations in 30+ countries. Skytrax voted it as the “world’s best airline” four times. The airline has also topped Travel & Leisure’s best airlines list for decades.
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3. All Nippon Airways

Coming in at number three this year is Japan’s All Nippon Airways. Also called Zennikkū, the airline is the country’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers and revenues. Headquartered in Shiodome City Center in the Minato ward of Tokyo.

It is said to be the leading operator of the Boeing 787 and noted to be a launch customer for the popular 777X. Heralded as being “at the forefront of cabin innovation”. The company offers flights to domestic and international locations and in 2016 were reported to employ more than 20,000 people.

4. Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways Limited is currently the flag carrier of Australia. It’s the country’s biggest airline in terms of international flights, international destinations, and fleet size. This airline slotted in at number four due to its financial performance and also scored the Best Domestic Service and Best Lounge awards.

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5. Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways, aka Cathay or Cathay Pacific, made it to number five on the list. Always in the winner’s circle, it is Hong Kong’s flag carrier. Airlineratings.com has given the airline several different awards including one for Best Business Class in 2013 and one for Best Asia/Pacific Airline for 2015 and 2016. The main office and hub are situated in Hong Kong International Airport. The company runs a fleet of Airbus A350, Airbus A330, and, of course, Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft.

6. Emirates

In the 6th spot is the state-owned airline Emirates. It’s headquartered in Garhoud, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Its hub is located at Dubai International Airport.

The airline was rated highly in part because it announced that next year it with offer a Premium Economy class to all of its aircraft. The state has also ordered A350s and 787-9s. Emirates, a subsidiary of The government’s Emirates Group, is the biggest airline in the Middle East. They run more than 3,600 flights every week to over 150 cities in 80 different countries.

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7. Virgin Atlantic

Now arriving at spot number seven is Virgin Atlantic. The British airline is also known as Virgin Atlantic International Limited and Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited. Among other things, they were slotted into the top ten for their continuous innovations.

The company’s head office can be found in Crawley, England. It was founded in 1984 and first known as British Atlantic Airways. The company co-founders, Randolph Fields, and Alan Hellary, originally intended to only offer flights between the city of London and the Falkland Islands. The name was later changed to Virgin Atlantic Airways.

8. EVA Air

EVA Air Corporation or EVA Air lands at number eight. EVA actually stands for “Evergreen Airways.” Whatever you want to call it, the airline has reportedly always been the leading Taiwanese aviation company.

The company was founded in 1989. Since 1992 this airline has led the way in terms of premium economy and cabin innovation. It’s based out of the Taoyuan International Airport located near Taipei, Taiwan.

Skytrax gave this airline a five-star rating. It is currently the second-largest airline in Taiwan. EVA Air is based in Luzhu, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

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9. Qatar Airways

In the number nine slot is Qatar Airways. The airline, Qatar Airways Company, Q.C.S.C., was credited for being yet another great innovator. It made the charts, in part, because of award-winning Business Class suites and catering.

This state-owned airline is the flag carrier of Qatar. Its main office is in the impressive Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the company runs a hub-and-spoke network. The airline connects more than 150 international locations across North America, Africa, Central Asia, Europe, South America, South Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania from Hamad International Airport.

10. Virgin Australia

Scraping into the Top 10 we have Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd scored for Best Economy and Best Cabin Crew too. It is not only one of the country’s largest airlines, but it is also the largest airline (going by fleet size) to use the famous Virgin brand.

It launched back in August 2000 under the name Virgin Blue. They had only two aircraft and flew one route. It became a major airline when Ansett Australia went under in September 2001. It currently provides service to 42 destinations in Australia from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

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11. Lufthansa

Lufthansa came in at number 11. The name Lufthansa comes from the German term luft which means air and hansa which is short for the Hanseatic League. Also known as Deutsche Lufthansa AG, it was praised for offering the “best long-haul Europe.”

It’s Germany’s flag carrier and also the country’s largest airline. When Lufthansa is combined with its various subsidiaries, it is also Europe’s largest airline (in regards to the number of passengers carried). The entire Lufthansa Group presently has more than 700 aircraft which makes it one of the world’s largest airline fleets.

12. Finnair

Filling out the top dozen airlines for 2020 is Finnair. Finnair is the country’s flag carrier and its largest airline too. You can find its headquarters in Vantaa at the Helsinki Airport. Among other things, it scored high for staff relations and how it treats its staff.

That raises a question on how one judges airlines on staff relations since its staff recently went on strike in solidarity with the postal employees.) Finnair and its subsidiaries rule in terms of both domestic and international flights. The government is the airline’s major shareholder. Finnair has close to 6,000 employees.

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13. Japan Airlines

Number 13 was lucky for Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., also known simply as Nikkō. This charting international airline, headquartered in Shinagawa Tokyo, is the nation’s flag carrier. The business is praised for its customer service and innovative promotions.

This airline’s main hubs are presently located at Tokyo International Airport. Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, Osaka International Airport, and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport. The entire business group of JAL companies includes ZIPAIR Tokyo, Ryukyu Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, JAL Express, JAL Cargo, Japan Airlines, J-Air, and Japan Air Commuter.

14. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM, legally known as Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V., landed at number 14 this year. KLM is the Netherlands flag carrier airline. (It is one of many flag carriers to make the list for 2020.)

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919 and has its HQ in the city of Amstelveen. Its hub is located close by at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. KLM is the world’s oldest airline still doing business under its original moniker. At last count, the airline employed almost 36,000 people and had a fleet of 119 aircraft.

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15. Korean Air

Slotting it at number 15 this year is the Korean Air Co., Ltd. More commonly known as Korean Airlines or simply Korean Air, it is currently reported to be South Korea’s flag carrier and largest airline according to fleet size, the number of international destinations and the number of international flights.

Korean Air was founded on March 1, 1969, following the Hanjin chaebol’s acquisition of the government-owned company Korean Air Lines. The Hanjin chaebol is owned by the well-known Cho family. The Cho family remains the airline’s controlling shareholder. The airline’s global HQ is situated in the city of Seoul.

16. Hawaiian Airlines

(Isn’t it about time an American airline show up on this list?) Hawaiian Airlines is reported to be the US state of Hawaii’s flag carrier and largest airline. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii. This is the United States’ tenth-largest commercial airline.

This airline has its main hub at the well-known Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on the popular island of Oahu. The company also has a second hub on the island of Maui’s Kahului Airport. Hawaiian Airlines offers flights to the US mainland, American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Asia, and various destinations in Hawaii.

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17. British Airways

There is something about this airline that simply appeals to people. So it should be no surprise it made the top 20 list. British Airways is the famous flag carrier airline of the entire United Kingdom.

The airline’s main hub can be found at London Heathrow Airport. The company’s main office is located near there at Waterside, Harmondsworth. Based on passengers carried and fleet size, it is the United Kingdom’s second-largest airline. BA is also the first official passenger airline to earn more than $1 billion on one air route in a single year.

18. Alaska Airlines

This is the second American airline to make the list. (USA! USA!) Alaska Airlines is one of several major American airlines. The company’s home office can be found in SeaTac, in the Seattle metropolitan area, in the state of Washington.

This airline is the United States’ fifth-largest airline in the United States in terms of the number of destinations offered, passengers carried, and fleet size. Alaska Airlines and its partners run a network of routes focused on linking Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to more than 100 locations in the continental United States, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica.

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19. Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is the third and final US airline to make the list. Its inclusion may be a surprise to some. After all, frequent flyers and certainly any travel writer worth his or her salt is well aware of certain headline-grabbing incidents in this American company’s past.

Still, it’s earned its slot here. Delta Air Lines, Inc. was actually named as the official best long-haul airline for the Americas. Delta is a legacy carrier and one of the United States’ major airlines. Delta’s main office is situated in Atlanta in the state of Georgia.

20. Etihad Airways

Last to make the list is Etihad Airways. This airline is the UAE’s second-largest. The company HQ is located in Khalifa City, in Abu Dhabi.

It’s conveniently close to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad was first open for business in November of 2003. They purport to “offer the best deals on flights worldwide.”

It is the United Arab Emirates’ official national carrier. This airline offers non-stop flights to over 90 destinations in North America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, Asia, and (of course) the Middle East. The airlines’ cabins are configured in several unique ways.

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