Air Tran takes top AQR spot, industry score falls to new low
This topic features eight sound bites and one voice wrap.
According to the 18th annual national Airline Quality Rating, Air Tran is the best-performing airline. As far as an overall rating for the airline industry, 2007 produced the worst AQR score ever. Twelve of the 16 airlines rated performed more poorly in 2007 than 2006.
The rating is conducted annually by researchers Dean Headley of Wichita State University and Brent Bowen of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. According to the Airline Quality Rating, Air Tran was first followed by Jet Blue, Southwest, Northwest and Frontier in the top five; Continental, Alaska, United, American and Delta in the second five, with US Airways at No. 11; and Mesa, SkyWest, Comair, American Eagle and Atlantic Southeast at No. 12-16.
The AQR, as an industry standard, uses objective performance-based data to compare quality among airlines. The AQR measures performance in baggage handling, on-time arrivals, denied boardings and customer complaints. Comments on today’s Newsline are by Wichita State airline quality researcher Dean Headley.
Go to http://www.wichita.edu/newsline to get the current Wichita State University Newsline. If you cannot access the Newsline at the Web address above, contact Joe Kleinsasser at (316) 978-3013 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu. Newsline cuts may be edited to suit your needs.
If you have additional questions for Dean Headley on Monday, April 7, or Tuesday morning, April 8, call the Willard Intercontinental Hotel at (202) 628-9100. Starting Wednesday, April 9, you can reach Headley at (316) 978-3367 or dean.headley@wichita.edu. For more information, go to www.aqr.aero.