The number one best airline for economy travelers may shock you

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2023

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Airlines have gained record revenues over the last two quarters due to a combination of soaring demand, limited supply and surging airfares. Passengers, on the other hand, are far from satisfied, according to the J.D. Power 2023 North America Airline Satisfaction Study.

Customer satisfaction with major airlines is down significantly for a second year in a row due in large part to airfare costs, according to the study, published Wednesday.

Overall satisfaction dropped seven points from last year to 791 out of a 1,000-point scale. In 2022, passenger satisfaction dropped 22 points from 2021.

SUMMER TRAVEL: FAA ACTIVATES MORE DIRECT ROUTES TO CUT DOWN ON DELAYS, ENHANCE SAFETY

According to the data, customer satisfaction for the airline costs and fees fell 17 points from last year. Meanwhile, satisfaction with cost and fees in the economy basic economy segment, in particular, went down even further, falling 19 points from a year ago, according to the study.

An American Airlines aircraft makes its final approach to London’s Heathrow International Airport in England. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

In the end, this could damage a brand, Michael Taylor, travel intelligence lead at J.D. Power, warned.

"If yield management were the only metric airlines needed to be successful in the long term, this would be a banner year for the industry because they are operating at peak economic efficiency," Taylor said.

For instance, United Airlines reported in April that its total operating revenue during the first quarter grew by 51.1% compared to the same period in 2022 and total revenue per available seat mile grew by 22.5%.

Meanwhile, JetBlue generated its highest first-quarter revenue in history. During the first quarter, the company reported operating revenue of $2.3 billion, which is up 34.1% compared to the same period a year ago. American also reported a record first-quarter revenue of $12.2 billion, a 37% increase year over year.

A Southwest Airlines jet arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport, Dec. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York / AP Newsroom)

"From the customer perspective, however, that means planes are crowded, tickets are expensive and flight availability is constrained," Taylor said.

Although these aforementioned issues haven't hindered leisure travel demand just yet, "if this trend continues, travelers will reach a breaking point and some airline brands may be damaged," he added.

UNITED ADDS MORE INTERNATIONAL ROUTES THIS SUMMER DUE TO STRONG DEMAND

According to recent data from travel app Hopper, trips to certain international destinations already cost more than $300 per ticket compared to last summer due to continued demand, higher jet fuel prices and lower capacity. That said, passengers will see some relief with domestic fares this summer which are only 6% higher compared to pre-pandemic times, according to Hopper.

A United 737-800 aircraft (United Airlines)

The study also measured passenger satisfaction with airline carriers in North America based on aircraft performance, baggage, boarding, check-in, cost and fees, flight crew, in-flight services and reservation.

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For economy and basic economy, Southwest Airlines ranked the highest for the second year in a row, gaining a score of 827.

Southwest beat Delta Air Lines, which scored 801 and JetBlue Airways, at 800, despite its operational meltdown in December that led to nearly 17,000 canceled flights and displaced millions of passengers over the holidays.

For premium economy, Delta ranked the highest followed by JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines. For first class and business, JetBlue Airways came in at number one. Delta ranked second and United was right behind at third.

UK

Fireball at Southend Airport after small plane crashes

Published

3 hours ago

July 13, 2025

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Fireball at Southend Airport after small plane crashes

A small plane has crashed at Southend Airport in Essex.

Essex Police said it was at the scene of a “serious incident”.

Images posted online showed huge flames and a large cloud of black smoke, with one witness saying they saw a “fireball”.

A police statement said: “We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane.

“We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours.

“We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.”

It has been reported that the plane involved in the incident is a Beech B200 Super King Air.

According to flight-tracking service Flightradar, it took off at 3.48pm and was bound for Lelystad, a city in the Netherlands.

One man, who was at Southend Airport with his family around the time of the incident, said the aircraft “crashed headfirst into the ground”.

John Johnson said: “About three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed.

“There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it.”

Mr Johnson added that he phoned 999 to report the crash.

Southend Airport said the incident involved “a general aviation aircraft”.

Four flights scheduled to take off from Southend this afternoon were cancelled, according to its website.

Flightradar data shows two planes that had been due to land at Southend were diverted to nearby airports London Gatwick and London Stansted.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said four crews, along with off-road vehicles, have attended the scene.

Four ambulances and four hazardous area response team vehicles are also at the airport, as well as an air ambulance, the East of England Ambulance Service said.

Its statement described the incident as “still developing”.

David Burton-Sampson, the MP for Southend West and Leigh, posted on social media: “I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work.

“My thoughts are with everyone involved.”

Local councillor Matt Dent said on X: “At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport. My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident.”

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World

Meredith Kercher’s killer faces new trial over sexual assault allegations

Published

4 hours ago

July 13, 2025

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Meredith Kercher's killer faces new trial over sexual assault allegations

The man convicted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher has been charged with sexual assault against an ex-girlfriend.

Rudy Guede, 38, was the only person who was definitively convicted of the murder of 21-year-old Ms Kercher in Perugia, Italy, back in 2007.

He will be standing trial again in November after an ex-girlfriend filed a police report in the summer of 2023 accusing Guede of mistreatment, personal injury and sexual violence.

Guede, from the Ivory Coast, was released from prison for the murder of Leeds University student Ms Kercher in 2021, after having served about 13 years of a 16-year sentence.

Since last year – when this investigation was still ongoing – Guede has been under a “special surveillance” regime, Sky News understands, meaning he was banned from having any contact with the woman behind the sexual assault allegations, including via social media, and had to inform police any time he left his city of residence, Viterbo, as ruled by a Rome court.

Guede has been serving a restraining order and fitted with an electronic ankle tag.

The Kercher murder case, in the university city of Perugia, was the subject of international attention.

Ms Kercher, a 21-year-old British exchange student, was found murdered in the flat she shared with her American roommate, Amanda Knox.

The Briton’s throat had been cut and she had been stabbed 47 times.