Sunday, March 1, 2009

"A strong performer in earlier year Surveys, 2008 is the time for easyJet to truly celebrate as they walk off with the accolade as World's Best Low-Cost Airline" said Edward Plaisted (CEO of Skytrax).

"As we have stated in earlier years, low-cost does not need to, nor should it equate to low-quality service, and easyJet is clear testament that low-cost operations can be delivered with a good standard of customer care and passenger service quality - with their level of customer loyalty clearly demonstrating a winning formula" added Plaisted.

Virgin Blue make a return to the top of the global rankings, placed in 2nd place worldwide, ahead of 2007 winner Jetstar Airways in 3rd place, with Air Berlin and Southwest Airlines 4th and 5th respectively.

JetStar Asia fought off a spirited challenge from Air Asia and Tiger Airways to win the Best Low-Cost Airline Asia Award. "This award for the Asia region has become one of most hotly contested survey sections" said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax. "It is due credit to JetStar Asia for turning around last year's results and taking this top award for 2008. Credit must be due to all JetStar Asia front-line staff, as this appeared to be where the real winning challenge came from".

"The next 12 months is going to continue providing real challenges to the world airline industry, and this will be felt harder by many of the low-cost airlines in particular. Evidently their focus will be upon reducing costs, but the key element within such exercises is to prevent alienating passengers with the ever increasing set of add-on charges. The demise of Oasis Hong Kong earlier in 2008 underlines the fact that there is not really a sustainable market for long-haul low cost airlines, and we would be surprised to see any change in that market for at least 2 years .... the full service airlines generally compete well on long-haul fares, and with charter airlines also in the market, long haul low-cost does not have any true pent-up demand to satisfy" added Edward Plaisted.



BEST LOW-COST AIRLINES : WORLDWIDE

Rank

Airline

2007

1

easyJet

3

2

Virgin Blue

6

3

Jetstar Airways

1

4

Air Berlin

2

5

Southwest Airlines

7

Regional Results


EUROPE

Rank

Airline

1

easyJet

2

Air Berlin

3

SkyEurope Airlines

ASIA

Rank

Airline

1

Jetstar Asia

2

Air Asia

3

Tiger Airways

AFRICA

Rank

Airline

1

Mango

2

Kulula

3

1time

AUSTRALIA / PACIFIC

Rank

Airline

1

Virgin Blue

2

Jetstar Airways

3

Tiger Airways

MIDDLE EAST

Rank

Airline

1

Air Arabia

2

Bahrain Air

3

Jazeera Airways

NORTH AMERICA

Rank

Airline

1

Southwest Airlines

2

jetBlue Airways

3

Frontier Airlines

SOUTH AMERICA

Rank

Airline

1

Gol

2

Webjet Linhas AƩreas

3

Easyfly

Result publication allowed with prior consent of Skytrax

REGIONAL BREAKDOWN

INDIA / CENTRAL ASIA

Rank

Airline

1

Spicejet

2

Indigo

3

JetLite

SOUTH EAST ASIA

Rank

Airline

1

Jetstar Asia

2

Air Asia

3

Tiger Airways

NORTHERN ASIA

Rank

Airline

1

Skymark Airlines

2

Spring Airlines

3

Star Flyer

EUROPE : Eastern Europe

Rank

Airline

1

SkyEurope Airlines

2

Wizz Air

3

Blue Air

EUROPE : Northern Europe

Rank

Airline

1

Norwegian

2

Blue 1

3

Sterling Airlines

EUROPE : Western Europe

Rank

Airline

1

easyJet

2

Vueling

3

Aer Arran

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