Until now, airlines have been ranked according to customer experience or punctuality. This year it will be very difficult to produce reliable rankings on these subjects given the very special context that we had. On the other hand, new classifications have been created and they concern the measures implemented to make air transport safer with regard to COVID.

Skytrax launches COVID-19 AIRLINE SAFETY RATINGS

Let’s start with Skytrax, the “reference” in terms of airline rankings. I use quotation marks because if the industry considers Skytrax as its Michelin guide, one cannot say that its annual ranking is unanimous (except for the best rated of course).

A ranking based on surveys except that in the memory of Travelguys in several thousand accumulated flights we have never seen a Stytrax surveyor, nor our other “Frequent Flyers” friends. A ranking that gives stars to airlines for products that don’t exist yet (even if we really like Lufthansa, the 5 stars based on a business class that still exists only in pictures, is audacious) to such an extent that it looks like cronyism, to say the least. We will also talk about the downgrading to 3 stars of Turkish Airlines which is nevertheless in the best European airlines in terms of service (well…before the COVID). Anyway.

So Skytrax has launched a ranking of the safest airlines according to their COVID protocol. It takes into account the protocols and nothing but the protocols and, as Skytrax specifies, not the service degradation they cause. For that, there is Degrad 19, whose 3rd edition will soon be available now things are clearer.

“Safety certification is achieved after a detailed investigation and analysis of the effectiveness and consistency of the measures implemented by the airlines to ensure that their COVID-19 safety and health measures meet the highest standards, and provide enhanced safety for customers and staff.”

We are very curious to know if they just read the protocols or if they really traveled to check their implementation.

In short, at this stage many airlines are still in the evaluation phase and for those that are evaluated we have :

What about the Skytrax COVID-19 AIRLINE SAFETY RATINGS?

Given its low representativeness and the doubts that we can have about the reality of the investigations, we will take this Skytrax ranking like any other Skytrax ranking: with caution.

No airline with 2 stars or less: given the context, it’s a good thing!

No 5-star airline: does that mean they haven’t found the perfect protocol yet? And by the way, what would it look like then.

What is a good COVID protocol for an airline?

Fortunately Skytrax gives us something to decipher its ranking.

The 5 star Covid Safety rating confirms excellent airport processing standards that take into account all the practical elements of contactless technology, customer handling and social distancing protocols for check-in, boarding and arrival. Airline lounges meet a high standard of cleanliness validated visually and by ATP testing, with good measures in place that facilitate social distancing, and safe delivery systems for food and beverage. The cleanliness on board and the presentation of the cabins are of an excellent level of quality, and can use new UV disinfection techniques, and mass disinfection treatments that are scientifically evaluated. Food service systems are adapted for COVID-19 times, with reduced contact delivery and enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.

To date, no airline tested meets all these criteria.

The 4 star Covid Safety rating recognizes good airport processing standards that include some elements of contactless technology, customer handling, and social distancing protocols for check-in, boarding and arrival. Airline lounges are of good cleanliness, validated visually and by ATP testing, and reasonable measures have been put in place to facilitate social distancing and safe food and beverage delivery systems. The cleanliness on board and the presentation of the cabins are of good quality and can use UV disinfection techniques and mass disinfection treatments that are scientifically evaluated. Most foodservice systems are adapted for COVID-19 times, with reduced contact delivery and enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.

Frankly the difference between the two is thin…

The 3 star Covid Safety rating achieves average airport processing standards that include few elements of contactless technology, customer processing, and social distancing protocols for check-in, boarding, and arrival. The cleanliness of airline lounges is inconsistent, validated visually and through ATP testing, and there are few measures in place to facilitate social distancing and safe delivery systems for food and beverage. On-board cleanliness and cabin presentation vary among the flights that have been ATP tested. Some food service systems are suitable for COVID-19 times, with reduced contact base delivery and limited or inconsistent enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.

Well, this is less appealing.

The 2 and 1 star levels are not detailed…and we don’t necessarily want to meet them.

It should be noted, however, that for a well-informed passenger, it is well known that the risk of contamination does not lie in the aircraft but on the ground. In our opinion, it is the ground protocol that is key, which does not only involve the airline but also the airport. We therefore find it a little daring to include in the airline’s score an airport component that is not under its control (apart from the lounges).

But Skytrax has produced the same ranking but for airports.

The safest airports for COVID according to Skytrax

We let you see for yourself at Skytrax. Here again, few airports were tested. CDG and Orly have no rating yet, Nice and Barcelona have only 3 stars, Frankfurt has 4, no one has 5 and that’s it…

Air France ranked high in the Safe Travel Barometer

If you are in France and follow the subject you have surely heard about the Safe Travel Barometer. Why ? Because, unlike Skytrax, Air France is rated there and rated rather well, and the press relations department has done its job well. On the other hand, it’s been 6 months since they’ve been able to communicate any good news so it’s understandable.

But what is the Safe Travel Barometer? Indeed as much Skytrax is known even if criticizable, as much here one dives in the unknown.

It’s impossible to know what’s behind it, except that “the safe travel barometer is developed by a highly experienced and innovative team with deep roots in the travel and tourism industry“.

Or:

“The Safe Travel Barometer is developed by Safe Travel Technologies Private Limited, based in Mumbai, India. We are backed by travel industry veterans and technology experts. See our leadership page for more details.“

How do they work?

“We have a large team that searches for official announcements, press releases and new articles for information. In addition, we also actively seek information directly from the company, the destination.”

Maybe Linkedin knows more?

“Safe Travel Barometer is the world’s most comprehensive database of traveler health and safety measures and announced traveler experience initiatives by suppliers that influence traveler decisions in the new normal.

It covers more than 1,900 businesses in 10 industry categories, 50 parameters and traveler arrival information in more than 80 destinations.

Safe Travel Barometer is a B2B2C solution developed by Safe Travel Technologies”.

The business has less than 10 employees.

The Safe Travel Barometer: a marketing smoke screen?

In short we have a 10-person Indian startup that aggregates public data on the travel experience to derive trends that it sells to industry players (this is called market research), which has no legitimacy in health matters, and which, given the context, has found it relevant (and they are right from a marketing point of view) to speak out on a fashionable subject to promote their offer/product.

It’s called marketing, nothing more and nothing less.

Here are the Safe Travel Barometer rankings.

However, a good algorithm is better than bad analysts and we can expect the data to be up to date.

But we hesitated between laughing and despairing when we see press releases copied/pasted in extenso by the specialized press or without checking what is behind. It is certain that between writing “we have 4.1/5 in the Safe Travel Barometer ranking” and “an algorithm developed by 7 Indians from an unknown company that compiles scattered data for marketing purposes has given us a good score on health safety”… it is not the same effect. It makes us want to launch the TravelGuys awards…with a good press agent it should work!

But don’t wait for the real application in a flight context to be analyzed from an objective and qualitative point of view. Note that we didn’t expect it from Skytrax either.

What about “COVID prevention” rankings in the airline industry?

What should we learn from all this and should we rely on these rankings to choose an airline tomorrow?

First of all, based on the official information published by the airlines we can think that at least they are good to take as information to choose an airline, without making it a bible.

Skytrax may look more legitimate in the field? The truth is that no one from Safe Travel or Skytrax has actually assessed the gap between the promise and the reality. And when you see on specialized forums or on Twitter pictures of so-called “highly cleaned and disinfected” cabins where crumbs from the previous flight still remain, you might have some questions.

Health security is like service: depending on the airline, there can be discrepancies between what is said and what is done. And within the same airline there can be discrepancies between one flight and another, some being professionals of “variability”.

The objective is not to help the passenger but to find customers

We were about to forget one last detail.

What is Skytrax’s business? Selling consulting services to airlines and airports. Their rankings are a marketing tool to establish their legitimacy. At least Michelin does not sell consulting to restaurants!

What is Safe Travel’s business? To sell data, services, consulting, and insights to industry players so that they can add value to their own customers. And then, guess what? Safe Travel is a subsidiary of VIDEC, a consulting company that sells its services to the travel industry.

In two words, the purpose of these rankings is not to help the passenger but to make themselves legitimate to the businesses that are their customers!

Photo : COVID prevention in aircraft by Pradpriew via Shutterstock

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