Emirates, IndiGo and Turkish Airlines achieve 4-Star COVID-19 Safety Rating
Emirates, IndiGo and Turkish Airlines are the latest airlines to be Certified with the 4-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating.
Commenting on the certifications, Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “We are pleased to have been able to conclude these COVID-19 ratings, based on evaluations in December and early January. We introduced our COVID-19 ratings in the middle of 2020 and they remain the only assessment and certification of airline health and safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic that is based on a professional and scientific investigation of the actual standards being provided at the airport and onboard flights. The stricter travel lockdowns imposed in many global regions continues to make planning difficult, but we envisage more ratings to be completed by the end of January.”
The COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings evaluate airport and onboard standards, to determine how effectively the COVID-19 enhanced systems and procedures put in place by each airline are performing.
» Emirates COVID-19 Rating results
» IndiGo COVID-19 Rating results
» Turkish Airlines COVID-19 Rating results
Airport assessment looks at practical elements of contactless technology, customer handling, and social distancing protocols and controls for check-in, boarding, arrivals and transfer processes – this is centred on the home base airport. Airline lounge cleanliness is validated visually and with ATP testing; lounge service includes social distancing, and safe delivery systems for food and beverages.
Airport analysis focuses on airline provided options, rather than areas under direct control of the airport operator. There is some cross-over that can have a slight impact on an airline’s final COVID-19 Safety Rating, and whilst very robust home-base airport standards were confirmed for Emirates (Dubai) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), poorer consistency of some areas at Delhi Airport caused a slight lowering of Indigo’s airport service section.
Onboard, cabin cleanliness includes common surface contact areas, customer and staff use of face masks and PPE, and protocols to control this, the adapted cabin service procedures including catering, in addition to provided amenities and cleanliness of essential comfort items.
ATP testing used by Skytrax where possible
The 4-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating
This 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 is validated visually and through 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.
