High praise for budget airlines

By Peter Woodward, Evening Standard

Last updated at 11:40 11 March 2003


Budget airlines are outscoring charter carriers and scheduled-service operators when it comes to satisfying passengers, according to a Consumers' Association Holiday Which? magazine survey.

About 20,000 of the magazine's readers gave their thoughts about their most recent flight. Eighty-two per cent of them said they would definitely or probably recommend their airline to a friend.

Bournemouth-based short-haul operator Palmair was top of the customer satisfaction table, with 85 per cent definitely recommending it.

Singapore Airlines (80 per cent) and Middle East carrier Emirates (77 per cent) were second and third. At the bottom was Air Scandic, with only six per cent of readers definitely recommending it.

The most popular airline flying to Spain and its Balearic islands was easyJet, with Go in second place and BMI British Midland third. BMI was best to the USA, followed by Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and US Airways.

British Airways was best to Greece and the Canary Islands, while Go was the best to France, the UK, Portugal, Madeira and Italy.

Two in five readers were unhappy with the legroom on their lfight, with this figure rising to nearly three in five for charter flights. Singapore Airlines was the best airline for seat allocation and check-in staff, as well as cleanliness and helpful cabin crew.

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