Etihad Airways Withdraws From Skytrax

Photo: Etihad Airways

Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways recently announced that it has decided to withdraw from UK-based Skytrax airline review and ratings services. Skytrax provides consultancy advice to the air-transport industry.

Photo © worldairlineawards.com

In a statement to the media, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates said it had sent a letter to Skytrax formally announcing its decision to withdraw from Skytrax, including the Skytrax World Airline Awards and the Skytrax Audit.

“The decision was made after Etihad Airways carried out a review of the criteria and measurement of the Skytrax Airline Rating System,” the airline said in the statement.

“The measurement of customer satisfaction and feedback is important to Etihad Airways. The airline subscribes to monthly industry research and undertakes comprehensive monthly surveys to monitor customer satisfaction, using the insights to continually improve its products and services,” the airline added.

Skytrax responded to Etihad’s request and said the statements made by the airline were “misleading” and had been “made without any material support.”

The UK firm added that an airline cannot demand to be withdrawn from the annual World Airline Awards, since the results are directly decided by customers.

Etihad Airways has received a continued four-star rating at Skytrax.  Five stars is the highest rating an airline can receive.