View source for Skytrax

{{short description|UK-based consultancy, running an airline and airport review and ranking site}}
{{pp-pc1}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Skytrax
| logo = Skytrax.svg
| founded = {{Start date and age|1989}}
| former_name = Inflight Research Services
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=SKYTRAX AVIATION LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03725948 |access-date=16 February 2025 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Edward Plaisted ([[CEO]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Careers with us {{!}} Skytrax |url=https://skytraxresearch.com/careers-with-us/ |access-date=16 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
| hq_location_city = [[London]]
| hq_location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| website = {{URL|https://skytraxresearch.com/}}
}}

'''Skytrax''' (originally known as '''Inflight Research Services''') is a United Kingdom-based consultancy headquartered in [[London]] that runs an [[airline]] and [[airport]] review website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whois.domaintools.com/airlinequality.com|title=AirlineQuality.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref>

==Services==
Skytrax conducts research for commercial airlines, as well as taking [[Statistical survey|survey]]s from international travellers, to rate [[cabin crew|cabin staff]], airports, airlines, airline lounges, [[in-flight entertainment]], on-board [[catering]], and several other elements of air travel.<ref>{{cite book | author = Mario Kossmann | title = Delivering Excellent Service Quality in Aviation | publisher = Ashgate Publishing | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-7546-4725-0 | pages = 67–71}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://airtravel.about.com/b/a/175032.htm |title=Skytrax rates the world's best |access-date=23 April 2007 |archive-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219031112/http://airtravel.about.com/b/a/175032.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Apart from these evaluations, Skytrax has an airline forum where passengers give potential passengers insights and opinions about airlines. The website also hosts flight reviews, flight checks, and satisfaction surveys. Skytrax holds an annual World Airline Awards<ref>[http://www.worldairlineawards.com/ World Airline Awards]</ref> and World Airport Awards,<ref>[http://www.worldairportawards.com/ World Airport Awards]</ref> as well as ranking airlines and airports.

Skytrax rates individual airlines between one and five stars; they describe a five-star rating as recognising "airlines providing very high standards of Airport and Onboard Product" and "consistent and high standards of staff service across both the airport and onboard service environments". The eleven airlines they deem to be five-star rated are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World's 5-Star Airlines |url=https://skytraxratings.com/the-worlds-5-star-airlines |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Skytrax |language=en-GB}}</ref>

* {{Flag icon|Japan}} [[All Nippon Airways]]
* {{Flag icon|South Korea}} [[Asiana Airlines]]
* {{Flag icon|Hong Kong}} [[Cathay Pacific]]*
* {{Flag icon|Taiwan}} [[EVA Air]]
* {{Flag icon|Indonesia}} [[Garuda Indonesia]]*
* {{Flag icon|China}} [[Hainan Airlines]]
* {{Flag icon|Japan}} [[Japan Airlines]]*
* {{Flag icon|South Korea}} [[Korean Air]]*
* {{Flag icon|Qatar}} [[Qatar Airways]]*
* {{Flag icon|Singapore}} [[Singapore Airlines]]*
* {{Flag icon|Taiwan}} [[Starlux Airlines]]

''Airlines with an [[asterisk]] (*)'' ''denote [[Flag carrier|flag carriers]]''.

==Investigations==
In 2012, the online investigations company [[KwikChex]] filed five complaints with the UK [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] (ASA) related to statements on the Skytrax website describing the volume and reliability of their reviews as well as the official status and update frequency of their ratings. The ASA ruled that there was no evidence that Skytrax had followed the robust procedures it claimed it had in place to check that all reviews were genuine. Although Skytrax argued that every review underwent a four-stage authentication process, it said it was unable to provide proof it had followed its own procedures, since customer emails were deleted 24 hours after a review was submitted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Skytrax airline quality claims under scrutiny |url=https://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?c=setreg&region=4&m_id=_rvnvns~&w_id=8418&news_id=2003855 |access-date=3 July 2019 |publisher=Travelmole |date=8 November 2012}}</ref> In 2012, the authority upheld all five complaints and Skytrax agreed to modify some promotional wording.<ref name="asa">{{cite web |title=ASA Ruling on Skytrax Research |url=http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2012/11/Skytrax-Research/SHP_ADJ_196416.aspx |work=asa.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="SmartCompany">{{cite web |author=Engel Schmidl |date=13 November 2012 |title=Advertising Standards Authority calls out Tripadvisor and Skytrax for fake user reviews |url=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/economy/advertising-standards-authority-calls-out-tripadvisor-and-skytrax-for-fake-user-reviews/ |access-date=28 August 2019 |work=SmartCompany.com.au}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.airlinequality.com}}
*{{YouTube|channel=UCxnW-L6M9GZPeShvIq5x-Ug|Skytrax}}

[[Category:Business services companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Aviation organisations based in the United Kingdom]]