SIA and Scoot receive highest rating for COVID-19 airline safety

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot, the two passenger airlines within the SIA Group, have been awarded the highest 5-Star rating in the Skytrax COVID-19 airline safety audit, the carriers announced in a joint media release on Tuesday (10 Aug).

Scoot is the first low-cost carrier in the world to get this 5-Star rating from Skytrax.

This follows a comprehensive assessment of the airlines’ health and safety measures for customers and staff members across the entire travel journey.

Skytrax evaluated more than 190 safety and hygiene protocols at SIA and Scoot during the audit. This included cleanliness at the airport and onboard flights, social distancing measures, use of face masks and sanitisers, and other hygiene improvement systems.

These were then certified based on professional and scientific investigations of the airlines’ standards.

Mr Lee Lik Hsin, executive vice president commercial, SIA, said: “Since the onset of the pandemic, we have reviewed and reinforced health and safety measures in more than 100 touchpoints along the travel journey. This will be an ongoing process, as our priority is to do everything possible to keep our customers and staff safe at all times.”

He added that the 5-Star rating from Skytrax is a “welcome recognition” of the airline’s commitment to this goal.

“SIA has long been recognised for our industry-leading products and award-winning customer service. Today, world-class health and safety standards are also an integral part of our brand promise as we gradually rebuild our network and welcome customers back onboard our flights.”

Mr Campbell Wilson, CEO of Scoot, said: “In addition to value, comfort, convenience, and safety, travellers increasingly seek assurance on airlines’ hygiene measures. Since the earliest days of the pandemic, Scoot has made health and safety a priority, strengthening our cleaning and other procedures, and introducing new low- or no-touch self-service options across our touchpoints.”

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted added that being able to provide such a high-level assurance to customers of a safe travel experience is the “most important factor” in restoring confidence in air travel.