13-Apr-2010 10:16 AM

Airline performance improves; one of best years ever, according to Airline Quality Rating

Direct News Source

12-Apr-2010 Airlines and airline passengers are discovering that less can be better.

Fewer flights and fewer fliers have translated into better performance.

For the second consecutive year, the performance of the nation's leading carriers improved, according to the 20th annual national Airline Quality Rating ( http://aqr.aero ). It was the third best overall score in the 19 years researchers have tracked the performance of airlines.

Released during a news conference at the National Press Club today (Monday, April 12), the rankings show that of the 17 carriers rated in both 2008 and 2009, all but Alaska Airlines had improved Airline Quality Rating scores for 2009.

The Airline Quality Rating is a joint research project funded as part of faculty research activities at Purdue University and Wichita State University.

The industry improved in three of the four major elements of the AQR: on-time performance, baggage handling and customer complaints. Denied boardings is the only element where the performance declined.

Below is the 2010 numerical ranking of the nation's leading 18 airlines, according to the Airline Quality Rating, with the 2009 ranking in parentheses:

1. Hawaiian (1)

2. AirTran (2)

3. JetBlue (3)

4. Northwest (4)

5. Southwest (6)

6. Continental (8)

7. Frontier (7)

8. US Airways (10)

9. American (9)

10. ExpressJet (not ranked in 2009 report)

11. Alaska (5)

12. Mesa (14)