Air New Zealand earns top Seven Star PLUS safety rating

Since the inception of AirlineRatings 13 years ago, Air New Zealand has consistently ranked among the World's Top 10 Safest Airlines. Now, following the success of its most recent onboard cabin safety audit, the airline has earned the Seven Star PLUS safety rating.

The achievement places Air New Zealand within a select group of Seven Star PLUS carriers, including Etihad Airways, STARLUX and Cathay Pacific. It recognises the airline's continued commitment to rigorous onboard operational standards

Airlineratings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said of the recognition: "What distinguishes Air New Zealand as a Seven Star PLUS safety-rated airline is not only its performance but also its growth mindset. Whilst our auditor identified very few recommendations, at our exit briefing, the airline's leadership treated each one of those as an opportunity to refine an already exceptional operation. This is the absolute epitome of a Seven Star PLUS airline: exceptional safety standards underpinned by a team that refuses to grow complacent."

Air New Zealand Chief Safety and Risk Officer Nathan McGraw said: "We're incredibly proud to receive AirlineRatings.com's Seven Star PLUS safety rating, its highest accolade. It recognises the dedication of all Air New Zealanders to maintaining safe, reliable operations and caring for our customers at every step of their journey. While this is a fantastic milestone, we know safety is an ongoing journey, and we remain focused on continuing to raise the bar every day."

Since the programme launched in October 2025, AirlineRatings has completed 12 onboard cabin safety audits, with Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Air Europa, HK Express and STARLUX each earning recognition as Seven Star PLUS airlines. Airlines that receive recommendations exceeding the required threshold are given a clear and detailed pathway to qualification: following the implementation of corrective measures, they are re-audited, at which point they may be elevated to Seven Star PLUS status.

Within the Australia-Pacific region, Fiji Airways is the next carrier scheduled to undergo the audit. A further four airlines across the Asia Pacific region are also underway, though those remain under a non-disclosure agreement.

So what does Seven Star PLUS actually mean?

Seven Star PLUS is a safety rating an airline earns, not one it can buy. To be eligible, an airline must already hold our seven star safety rating, the top of our scale. Only then can it put itself forward for the audit that leads to a Seven Star PLUS rating.

The airline invites our auditors aboard for an independent, anonymous assessment of its cabin crew safety compliance, observed under normal flight conditions across six flights. An airline earns Seven Star PLUS only if that audit goes well and stringent standards are met overall. Not every airline that sits it will clear it and a review audit will be conducted within the year. Whilst the airline pays for the service, it does not pay for the result. That distinction matters, because it means the rating reflects what our auditors actually found. An airline with a number of areas for improvement will simply retain their Seven Star safety rating.

The value in these audits sits with both the airline and the passenger. For the airline, the audit catches things early. It finds genuine cabin crew compliance gaps and helps close them before they ever become incidents or regulator findings. A safety team and a CFO both understand the value of catching a problem early. Earning the rating gives the airline a credential that carries weight precisely because it cannot be bought.

For travellers, Seven Star PLUS is a simple signal worth knowing. It marks an airline that already sits at the top of our safety rating, then opened its cabin operation to independent scrutiny and passed.

One thing to be clear about is that an airline without Seven Star PLUS is not unsafe, and it is not ranked below those that hold it. The PLUS indicates a mark of verified cabin safety compliance, earned by the airlines that have chosen to be tested and met the standard.

Why It Matters

With nearly 40% of passengers reporting anxiety or fear of flying, Seven Star PLUS provides a new level of reassurance. While traditional safety metrics focus on aircraft maintenance, operational excellence and regulatory compliance, this new rating highlights the human element specifically how safety is communicated, enacted, and felt onboard.

This initiative complements AirlineRatings mission: “Guiding you to the safest and best value airline for every journey.”

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