In the recently-concluded Airline Excellence Awards hosted by the prominent Airlineratings.com, 10 airlines were hailed as frontrunners of the today's airline industry. 

Here are AirlineRatings.com's the carriers that are considered players in service excellence and exceptional facilities: Lufthansa, EVA Air, All Nippon Airways, Etihad Airways (which also earned the Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa awards), British Airways, Virgin Australia (which also garnered the Best Business Class award), Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines (which also bagged the Best Economy award), Qantas (which also received Best Catering, Best Lounges, and Best Domestic Class).

The carrier that topped the list is Air New Zealand, which also obtained the Best Premium Economy. This is the airline's fourth consecutive victory. Staff motivation, financial performance, innovations, operations, safety rating and sensitivity to the environment are just some of the things that made this airline number one.

Other airline companies, which were not in the Top 10, received special awards. The Best Cabin Crew award was presented to the Virgin Group airlines.  The Best In-Flight Entertainment recognition was given to Emirates. In terms of the award in Best Low Cost Airline, it was conferred to Virgin America, Scoot, Kulula.com and Norwegian.

The Regional Airline of the Year was given to to Flybe, and Garuda Indonesia received the award of the Most Improved Airline.

In determining the winners, Airlineratings.com used a criteria that included 4 international industry and government audits, key product offerings, fleet age, profitability, passenger review ratings, and investment rating.

This annual recognition event proves to be a platform where airlines could be inspired by the disinguished work performed by others in the field. Winners are able to act as trailblazers for the success and stability of the airline industry.