British Airways and Lufthansa are the world’s first airlines to receive COVID-19 Safety Ratings
By Peter Miller, Skytrax – London, UK
British Airways and Lufthansa are the first airlines in the world to be Certified with the COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating, by international air transport rating agency Skytrax.
Both airlines have achieved the 4-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating, based on detailed investigation and analysis of the effectiveness and consistency of measures they have put in place to ensure that their COVID-19 safety and hygiene measures are the highest standard. The COVID-19 rating covers potential customer risk and concern elements across the airport and onboard environment. British Airways airport standards are based on their operations at Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport, and for Lufthansa it is based on Terminal 1, Frankfurt Airport.
The audit analysis incorporates relevant areas from the IATA Health Safety Standards Checklist, ICAO CART Take-off guidance and WHO recommendations.
Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “We see it as important to introduce reality and accuracy by providing COVID-19 airline safety ratings based on actual travel experience and assessment. Airlines are in the midst of the most challenging time in their history, and encouraging customers back onto flights involves not only changes to PCR testing, quarantine and country travel policies, but also in being able to demonstrate the necessary level of assurance for their COVID-19 measures through independent and professional assessment. We congratulate British and Lufthansa on achieving this commendable 4-Star COVID-19 Rating.”
T1 at Frankfurt Airport during COVID-19
The 4-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating recognises 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 have good cleanliness which has been validated visually and supported with ATP testing, and there are reasonable measures in place that facilitate social distancing, and safe delivery systems for food and beverages.
Onboard cleanliness and cabin presentation is at a good quality level which may use techniques for UV sanitisation, and mass disinfectant treatments which are scientifically evaluated. Most service systems for catering are adapted for COVID-19 times, with some reduced contact delivery and enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.
As part of the COVID-19 audit analysis, Skytrax use ATP testing to measure surface contamination across the high touch areas in the airport and onboard environment. Contact surface areas are tested to analyse any variance in surface contamination levels. ATP systems do not detect viruses directly, however COVID-19 infected material that contains biological residues will be detected by an ATP system.
T5 at Heathrow Airport during COVID-19
With Skytrax audit teams having to evaluate a variety of flights to assess each airline’s standards, the roll-out of the COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings is being carried out according to travel restrictions and border openings of countries around the world. After COVID-19 audits on European airlines, Skytrax are covering airlines in the Middle East and South America, and expect later this year to start in Asia and North America.
The COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings are part of the Skytrax Travel Safely programme.
» COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating explained
» British Airways COVID-19 Safety Rating
» Lufthansa COVID-19 Safety Rating
» Guide to COVID-19 safety policies for airlines across the world
