APAC Carriers Continue to Rate High on the January 2021 Leaderboard
FEBRUARY 16, 2021: Even as countries inoculate their population with COVID-19 vaccines, resumption of air travel services, particularly international, is still expected to be gradual in 2021. Over the last year, airlines have implemented various initiatives to safeguard passengers and crew in the ‘new normal’. The widespread and varied nature of these initiatives called for industry benchmarking to boost traveler confidence and jumpstart industry recovery.
Launched during the pandemic, Safe Travel Barometer, is a travel technology solution provider, whose tool enables the industry to monitor and benchmark traveler experience and COVID-19 health and safety protocols of more than 2,000 suppliers across 10 industry categories. Specifically, Safe Travel Barometer tracks 32 initiatives across 268 airlines – both full-service and low-cost carriers (LCCs). The basis upon the publicly announced initiatives, airlines are benchmarked on the basis of a Safe Travel Score.
Initiatives of 86 airlines in Asia Pacific (APAC) were assessed in January 2021. China’s Air China and China Southern Airlines achieved the highest Safe Travel Score of 4.1 each among full-service airlines. Malaysia-based AirAsia led the baton among APAC LCCs with a Safe Travel Score of 4.0 in January 2021. A pioneer in the region, AirAsia excels across multiple initiatives attributed to COVID-19 Traveler Safety and Traveler Convenience sub-categories.
Compared to other regions, APAC has the highest share (8%) of airlines with a Safe Travel Score of 4.0 and above. Full-service airlines that also feature on the APAC leaderboard include China Southern Airlines with a Safe Travel Score of 4.1. Airlines that followed suit at 4.0 include All Nippon Airways, Qantas Airways, Vistara and Cathay Pacific.
Safe Travel Score, Asia Pacific Full-Service Carriers, January 2021
Full-Service Carriers | Country | Safe Travel Score* (January 2021) |
Air China | China | 4.1 |
| China Southern Airlines | China | 4.1 |
All Nippon Airways | Japan | 4.0 |
| Qantas Airways | Australia | 4.0 |
Vistara | India | 4.0 |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong | 4.0 |
Korean Air | South Korea | 3.9 |
| Japan Airlines | Japan | 3.9 |
Singapore Airlines | Singapore | 3.9 |
| Air India | India | 3.8 |
View the Interactive Slide Show
The APAC LCC leaderboard is equally competitive. Seven airlines are at the heels of AirAsia – IndiGo and SpiceJet – with a Safe Travel Score of 3.9 in January 2021.
Safe Travel Score, Asia Pacific Low-Cost Carriers, January 2021
Low-Cost Carriers | Country | Safe Travel Score* (January 2021) |
AirAsia | Malaysia | 4.0 |
| IndiGo | India | 3.9 |
SpiceJet | India | 3.9 |
| JEJU air | South Korea | 3.7 |
GoAir | India | 3.7 |
| Scoot | Singapore | 3.7 |
Indonesia AirAsia | Indonesia | 3.6 |
| Thai AirAsia | Thailand | 3.6 |
Citilink | Indonesia | 3.5 |
| Jetstar Japan | Japan | 3.5 |
View the Interactive Slide Show
Virendra Jain, Co-Founder, and CEO, Safe Travel Barometer states, “Despite the regional diversity, Asian carriers continue to introduce a slew of measures in conjunction with airports and destinations to enact air corridors. These are trying times for the airline industry, where regulations and compliance pertaining to travelers’ health play a central role. We believe that health will emerge as the fourth standard of travel, much like passports, visas, and security. This will fundamentally alter how airlines and travelers comply with destination regulations.”
To know more, check out the Safe Travel Barometer Dashboard for Airlines
NOTES AND DISCLAIMER:
- * Safe Travel Score for airlines is a rating initiative based on an independent assessment of more than 32 initiatives applicable to an air journey, across pre-boarding, boarding and onboard experiences, announced by airlines.
- Safe Travel Score takes into consideration various initiatives announced by suppliers. These are sub-categorized into the following:
- COVID-19 Safety Protocols
- Traveler Convenience
- Service Excellence
- Low ratings may not always be reflective of poor initiatives, but also the lack of clear or available information on supplier websites, related official channels.
- Safe Travel Score should not be associated with the relative physical or psychological safety of the traveler.
About Safe Travel Barometer:
Safe Travel Barometer is a travel technology solution, developed by Safe Travel Technologies. It is the world’s most comprehensive solution of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and traveler experience initiatives announced by suppliers that influence traveler decisions in the new normal. The coverage includes more than 2,000 companies across 10 industry categories, 100+ parameters, and traveler arrival information on more than 150 destinations.
Safe Travel Technologies is an independent subsidiary of VIDEC, a travel industry advisory and consulting firm.
Visit www.safetravelbarometer.com for more information on Safe Travel Score, explore other travel industry categories, countries of interest, and partnership inquiries.
For more information, please contact:
Mariko Amekodommo
Head – Marketing, Safe Travel Barometer
mariko.amekodommo@safetravelbarometer.com | https://www.safetravelbarometer.com