Which airline soars above the others in terms of performance?
Virgin America takes the top spot for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 26th annual Airline Quality Rating.
The AQR is a project funded by Wichita State University in Kansas and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott.
The study showed the airline industry improved in three of the four areas examined by the AQR study: on-time performance, rate of involuntary denied boardings and the rate of mishandled baggage.
A high number of customer complaints were reported though, up to its highest level in 15 years.
“While these airlines are making record profits, the findings clearly indicate investments need to happen now to improve the customer experience in all of the complaint categories,” Study co-researcher Brent Bowen, Dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Arizona campus said. “Additionally, airports, communities and the government agencies must improve the capacity for air travel because there is no indication that air travel growth will slow down in the future.”
How did each of the airlines stack up when compared to each other?
Here's a look at the 2015 results of the nation’s leading 13 airlines:
1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue
3. Delta
4. Hawaiian
5. Alaska
6. Southwest
7. SkyWest
8. United
9. ExpressJet
10. American
11. Frontier
12. Envoy Air
13. Spirit (new to rating in 2015)
