SKYTRAX awards, renews 5-Star ratings

Four airlines have retained their 5-Star ratings from airline and airport review specialists SKYTRAX, while three other airlines have had the honor bestowed anew for 2015.

SKYTRAX renewed the 5-Star rating for Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) for the third consecutive year the airline announced on March 20, while three other airlines that held the coveted rating in 2014 passed SKYTRAX’s “renewal audit” and have also been reconfirmed as 5-Star carriers. Those airlines are Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

In addition, the agency certified Garuda Indonesia as its newest 5-Star carrier in January. Two other carriers, Asiana Airlines and Hainan Airlines, which lost their 5-Star certifications in 2014 have been recertified 5-Star carriers for 2015.

According to SKYTRAX, the rating is an indication of an airline’s overall service, not just the in-flight experience.

“A great product is not by itself the key to a 5-Star Airline rating, and Skytrax Star Rating also places great emphasis on the quality of front-line service an airline provides,” U.K.-based SKYTRAX explained on its website. “A 5-Star Airline rating recognises airlines whose front-line staff (across airport and onboard experience) deliver a true and consistent 5-Star standard of service delivery.”

ANA is the only airline in Japan to receive this award, which reflects its ability to deliver a truly consistent and high quality of product and service, according to the review firm.

In a news release announcing the award, ANA credited a broad range of employees for the honor.

“The award recognizes the consistently high levels of service provided by ANA to customers at all stages of their flight, from the airport to the cabin,” the airline said. ”It also recognizes the ongoing improvements to service quality that ANA has implemented to meet the needs of its increasingly international customer base.”

The airline also cited service improvements including the launch of "Dining h," a new restaurant inside the ANA SUITE LOUNGE at the Haneda Airport (HND); the expansion of ANA's in-flight entertainment; and the Tastes of Japan project, among others.

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