Airlines From Around the World Gather to Receive Four- and Five-Star Official Airline Ratings(TM) Honors

25/09/2018 02:04

BOSTON, Sept. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The top airlines from around the world gathered in Boston tonight for the announcement of the industry's most anticipated honor, the Official Airline Ratings™, the first airline rating program based solely on certified passenger feedback. APEX (the Airline Passenger Experience Association), the only non-profit membership trade association dedicated to improving the entire airline passenger experience, announced the airlines honored with four- and five-star Official Airline Ratings.

The 2019 APEX Official Airline Ratings™ recognizes airlines in three categories:

Global Airlines
Major Regional
Low-Cost Carriers

The APEX Official Airline Ratings™ were created based on passenger feedback gathered through APEX's partnership with TripIt® from Concur®, the world's highest-rated travel-organizing app. Using a five-star scale, more than one million flights were rated by passengers across nearly 500 airlines from around the world between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018. First, passengers rated their overall flight experience from one to five stars. On the same screen, passengers were given the opportunity to provide anonymous ratings in five subcategories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment and Wi-Fi. The single screen rating allows airline passengers to easily rate their flight in less than 15 seconds.

The APEX Official Airline Ratings™ were independently certified by a professional external auditing company and used to establish the airline's Official Airline Ratings™, as well as for the APEX Passenger Choice Awards.

"We are extremely proud of the results of our passenger-driven Official Airline Ratings program with TripIt," said APEX CEO Joe Leader. "Of nearly 500 airlines rated worldwide, less than nine percent were rated by their passengers at the highest Five-Star Airline level and only the next 14 percent reached the prestigious Four-Star Airline tier."

In the highest five-star airline tier, only 25 global airlines reached that pinnacle. Another 18 major regional airlines also attained the highest five-star summit as determined by their passenger ratings.

At the prestigious four-star airlines level, only 23 global airlines attained the status. An additional 17 major regional airlines received the four-star airline status. A total of 24 low-cost carriers reached their highest attainable award globally with four stars out of a maximum of four stars for low-cost carriers.

While the majority of airlines will receive their awards at APEX EXPO, commuter and other airlines unable to receive their awards can accept them at APEX's regional events, where the 2019 regional Passenger Choice Awards will also be announced.

For four decades, APEX has represented the world's leading airlines, suppliers and related companies and, with its members, continues to elevate the passenger experience. APEX airline members may participate in a program to receive exclusive access to the anonymous feedback provided by the airline's passengers, which can be used to curate best practices and improve in-flight experiences for travelers.

The Awards Ceremony, hosted by Brian Kelly, CEO and founder of The Points Guy, took place during APEX EXPO, the industry's largest PaxEx event exclusive to experts and decision-makers committed to elevating the level of the worldwide airline passenger experience. The conference attracts more than 5,000 industry professionals, including representatives from more than 100 airlines, and showcases the most comprehensive display of airline-related technologies, products and services. APEX EXPO is once again co-located with International Flight Services Association (IFSA) Conference & EXPO and Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) Americas.

For more information and photos from the APEX Award Ceremony, please visit apex.aero, sign up for the APEX Daily Experience e-newsletter or follow APEX on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

FOUR- AND FIVE-STAR RECIPIENTS OF THE 2019 OFFICIAL AIRLINE RATINGS™
(All Listed in Alphabetical Order)

FIVE-STAR GLOBAL AIRLINES

Aeroflot Russian Airlines
Air Canada
Air New Zealand
All Nippon Airways
American Airlines
Asiana Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Emirates
Etihad Airways
EVA Air
Finnair
Garuda Indonesia
Japan Airlines
Korean Air
LATAM Airlines
Lufthansa
Qantas Airways
Singapore Airlines
Qatar Airways
Swiss International Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
Virgin Atlantic

FIVE-STAR MAJOR REGIONAL AIRLINES

Aer Lingus
Air Astana
Alaska Airlines
Avianca
Bangkok Airways
Copa Airlines
Hainan Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Icelandair
JetBlue Airways
JetSuiteX
SilkAir
Virgin Australia

FOUR-STAR GLOBAL AIRLINES

Aerolineas Argentinas
Aeroméxico
Air France
British Airways
China Southern Airlines
El Al Israel Airlines
Iberia
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Scandinavian Airlines
South African Airways
Thai Airways International
United Airlines
Vietnam Airlines

FOUR-STAR MAJOR REGIONAL AIRLINES

Caribbean Airlines
Fiji Airways
Gulf Air
Hong Kong Airlines
Jet Airways
Malindo Air
Middle East Airlines
Oman Air
Philippine Airlines
Royal Brunei Airlines
Royal Jordanian Airlines
SriLankan Airlines

FOUR-STAR LOW-COST CARRIERS

Allegiant Air
Citilink
Eurowings
IndiGo
Interjet
Jetstar Japan
Norwegian
Southwest Airlines
Thai AirAsia
WestJet

Media Contact:
Robin Applebaum
678-303-2980
rapplebaum@apex.aero

About The Airline Passenger Experience (APEX)
APEX encompasses a network of businesses and professionals that are committed to providing a world-class airline experience for passengers around the globe. As a non-profit, APEX reinvests all of its resources to better serve its members. Every day, APEX members evaluate the passenger experience through an influential community and are improving every aspect of the airline experience: from designing, building and installing seating, entertainment and communications systems on commercial aircraft to airport lounges and inflight dining. For more than four decades, APEX has worked to strengthen the industry and enable business opportunities through education, innovation, networking and recognition.

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