Recent Announcements Across North America to Streamline Traveler Safety Protocols
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 enable 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.
Safe Travel Barometer assessed initiatives of 40 North American carriers across Canada, U.S., and Mexico in January 2021. Among them, only two airlines achieved a Safe Travel Score of 4.0 or higher. However, we may witness an increase in the ratings of North American airlines in the near future. In January 2021, U.S.’ CDC mandated the use of face masks by air travelers, while Canadian regulators introduced mandatory PCR testing at airports, followed by a hotel quarantine for all international arriving travelers. In addition, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reportedly recommending a fine for face mask violation of $250 for the first offense and up to $1,5,00 for repeat offenders.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is the front-runner on the North American airline leaderboard with a Safe Travel Score of 4.1 out of 5 in January 2021. In the case of LCCs, Southwest Airlines led the pack with a Safe Travel Score of 4.0.
Other proactive airlines from the region which feature on the leaderboard include full-service carriers such as Air Canada (3.8), American Airlines (3.7). On the LCC side of the spectrum, JetBlue (3.8) was a distant second to Southwest, while Allegiant Air received a Safe Travel Score of 3.6 followed by Canada’s Air North and WestJet with 3.3 each in January 2021.
Safe Travel Score, North American Full-Service Carriers, January 2021
Full-Service Carriers | Country | Safe Travel Score* (January 2021) |
Delta Air Lines | U.S.A. | 4.1 |
| Air Canada | Canada | 3.8 |
American Airlines | U.S.A. | 3.7 |
| United Airlines | U.S.A. | 3.6 |
Air Transat | Canada | 3.5 |
| AeroMexico | Mexico | 3.5 |
Alaska Airlines | U.S.A. | 3.4 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | U.S.A. | 3.4 |
View the Interactive Slide Show
Safe Travel Score, North American Low-Cost Carriers, January 2021
Low-Cost Carriers | Country | Safe Travel Score* (January 2021) |
Southwest Airlines | U.S.A. | 4.0 |
| JetBlue Airways | U.S.A. | 3.8 |
Allegiant Air | U.S.A. | 3.6 |
| Air North | Canada | 3.3 |
WestJet | Canada | 3.3 |
| Volaris Airlines | Mexico | 3.2 |
Viva Aerobus | Mexico | 3.1 |
| Frontier Airlines | U.S.A. | 3.0 |
| Spirit Airlines | U.S.A. | 3.0 |
View the Interactive Slide Show
Virendra Jain, Co-Founder, and CEO, Safe Travel Barometer states, “After months of tracking the traveler safety measures worldwide, it is about time that the U.S. CDC and TSA support airlines in enforcing even the most basic requisites to travel during the new normal. On the north of the border, Canada’s introduction of mandatory hotel quarantine for international travelers puts it alongside countries such as Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, who have had similar protocols for several months already.”
“These initiatives will no doubt impact travel decisions in the months to come, and invariably lead to regulations and compliance pertaining to travelers’ health status. 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,” Jain added.
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