Skytrax has released its annual world airline star ratings, ranking airlines by the quality of their front-line product and service standards. Nigeria’s Arik Air made 3-star ratings alongside 119 other airlines in the world. Arik Air is the only rated Nigerian airline. According to Skytrax website, “The 3-Star Airline Rating is awarded to airlines delivering a fair Quality performance that conforms to an industry “average” of acceptable product and service standards. South Africa Airways, Air Mauritius, Royal Air Maroc, Air Seychelles were rated 4-star, while six Asian airlines and one Gulf carrier were rated 5-star.

The 3-Star Airline rating signifies a satisfactory standard of core product for most travel categories (ie. cabin of travel), but it also reflects some inconsistency amongst either standards of front-line staff service or product delivery for the cabin Service and their home-base Airport environments.” Other African airlines in the 3-star category are: Air Algerie, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Egypt Air, Air Namibia, LAM Mozambique Airlines, TAAG Angola Airlines. Meanwhile, four African airlines made the 4-star ratings , South African Airways, Air Mauritius, Royal Air Maroc and Air Seychelles.

The much enviable 5-star ratings has ANA All Nippon Airways(Japan), Asiana Airlines (South Korea), Cathay Pacific Airways(Hong Kong), Garuda Indonesia (Indonesia), Hainan Airlines(China), Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines in the category. “The ultimate Quality Approval, this 5-Star Airline rating is awarded to airlines achieving the highest, overall quality performance. The 5-Star Airline rating recognises high standards of airport and on-board product, together with consistent and high standards of staff service delivery across both the airport and cabin service environments. This prestigious 5-Star Airline rating recognizes airlines at the forefront of product and/or service delivery excellence,” Skytrax said.