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

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 
[email protected]

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.

SOURCE APEX (The Airline Passenger Experience Association)