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New ranking shows: Traveling with Swiss, Emirates and company in Corona times is so safe
A new index analyzes the Covid measures of airlines, to the detriment of Swiss airlines. However, these are critical.
Airlines like Swiss not only struggle with low prices, but in times of Covid also with hygiene measures in favor of customers.
For years it was price – for many customers it was the deciding factor in deciding which airline to choose for their own journey. But in the days of Corona the question suddenly arises: How hygienic, how safe for Corona is the airline?
The new “Safe Travel Barometer” attempts to provide initial information. A few days ago, the Arab Emirates airline proudly announced that, according to the new rating, it was the safest airline in the world with respect to corona measures. The result: 4.4 out of 5 points. According to Emirates, the rating is based on an independent review of 26 factors across all travel segments. The airline has strengthened safety and hygiene measures, has launched free hygiene kits, protective barriers at check-in counters, as well as personal protective equipment and new safety protocols for the crew. For example, the cabin bathroom is cleaned every 45 minutes during the flight.
Takeout instead of buffet: Emirates also had to adapt the concept of its bar on the A380 aircraft.
Switzerland as good as Air Tahiti
The competition is not mentioned in the Emirates press release. CH Media took a closer look at the ranking. Immediately behind Emirates are two other Middle Eastern airlines, Etihad and Qatar. Lufthansa’s two Swiss subsidiaries only occupy places in the midfield. Swiss receives a 3.7 rating, as do airlines such as Shandong, Transavia, and Air Tahiti. Its sister airline Edelweiss receives 3.4 points and Helvetic Airways only 2.1.
- Emirates: 4.4
- Etihad: 4.3
- Qatar: 4.2
- Singapore: 4.1
- Air France: 4.1
- Swiss: 3.7; Edelweiss: 3.4; Helvetic: 2.1 (Quelle: Safe Travel Barometer)
So Arab airlines clean cleaner than Swiss ones? Swiss and Edelweiss do not want to comment on the on-demand results. No one is aware of this “Safe Travel Barometer”. One was never contacted in this regard. In fact, the ranking was only released this year by the Indian consultancy Videc. These reviews are a business for rating agencies, as companies often have to pay a fee to use the tag.
A Swiss spokeswoman says the airline is committed to the world’s strictest infection protection standards. The letter from the European Aviation Safety Agency was signed together with the parent company Lufthansa. This sets uniform standards regarding the requirement for masks on board, cabin air filtering and increased aircraft ventilation, cleanliness on board and safe distances for boarding and disembarking. In addition, they have introduced their own measures, such as the distribution of disinfectant wipes to all passengers.
Helvetic has expressed concern
Even at Helvetic Airways, the airline of billionaire Martin Ebner, one does not seem to want to trust the result: “The organization and its ranking were previously unknown to us and we were not informed about the implementation of such an analysis,” says a spokesperson. In general, these classifications should always be enjoyed with great caution. “This type of study often rewards good marketing or subjective elements more than objectively measurable facts.” Helvetic’s protection concept is proven on a daily basis. However, the ranking results will be checked, as they are open to suggestions for improvement.
According to Helvetic, these ratings are of marginal importance to passengers. Often they didn’t even notice when they were booking a flight. Much more important is the flight experience with the cabin crew. “With the strict application of the Covid-19 rules, cabin employees make a decisive contribution to the feeling of safety on board.” Helvetic has also stepped up cleanup, introduced the mask requirement, and followed guidelines from the EU and Swiss civil aviation authorities. For example, water is now only distributed in closed PET bottles and sandwiches with protective wrappers.
The Emirates offensive
So whether Emirates is actually the safest airline during a pandemic is definitely not clear, at least to the competition. However, the fact is that Emirates went on the hygiene offensive from the start. And it was the first major airline to introduce free coverage for corona-related medical costs of up to 150,000 euros and quarantine costs of 100 euros per day in case a passenger became infected with the virus while traveling. It also pioneered full-body protective uniforms for the crew. Since then, other airlines have followed suit.
