According to IATA every day, approximately 100,000 flights take to the sky and land without incident. Flying continues to be of tremendous importance to modern life and getting on an aircraft is among the safest activities that one can do.

In 2020, the international air transport rating agency Skytrax launched the COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings. It is the world’s first COVID-19 Safety Accreditation for the airline industry that follows a comprehensive assessment of the airlines’ health and safety measures for customers and staff members across the entire travel journey. Skytrax provides independent, expert evaluation and certification of airline COVID-19 hygiene and safety measures that is regarded as a global benchmark for Certifying COVID-19 safe travel standards that are based on professional and scientific investigation of the standards for an airline at the airport and onboard flights.

Skytrax evaluated more than 190 safety and hygiene protocols at the condition airline during the audit: cleanliness at the airport and onboard flights, social distancing measures, use of face masks and sanitizers, and other hygiene improvement systems.

Skytrax evaluates the cleaning and disinfection procedures at the airport and onboard aircraft, recycling of the cabin air, special signage and floor markings to ensure physical distancing, the compulsory wearing of masks, provision of hand sanitizer, and an adapted service in the airports' lounges and onboard aircraft.


The COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings award between 3-Star and the highest 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating.
 

• A 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating confirms excellent airport processing standards that consider all 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 procedures and consistency, with good measures in place that facilitate social distancing, and safe delivery systems for food and beverages. Onboard cleanliness and cabin presentation are at an excellent quality level and may use new techniques for UV sanitization, and mass disinfectant treatments that are scientifically evaluated. Service systems for catering are adapted for COVID-19 times, with reduced contact delivery and enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.
   
• A 4-Star COVID-19 Airline 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 have good cleanliness procedures and consistency, 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 sanitization, and mass disinfectant treatments that 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.
   
• A 3-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating achieves average airport processing standards that have few elements of contactless technology, customer handling, and social distancing protocols for check-in, boarding, and arrival. Airline lounge cleanliness may be inconsistent, and/or with limited measures in place that facilitate social distancing, and safe delivery systems for food and beverages. Onboard cleanliness procedures, consistency, and cabin presentation vary between flights. Some service systems for catering are adapted for COVID-19 times, with basic reduced contact delivery and limited or inconsistent enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.