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These Are the Safest Airlines to Fly During the COVID-19 Pandemic

House Beautiful 11/17/2020 Kelly Corbett

I'm sure none of us imagined that come November 2020, traveling would still be such a major safety concern. However, with the holidays right around the corner, it's inevitable that many folks will be hopping on planes in order to spend time with their families. As COVID-19 cases continue to spike, it's important to choose an airline that prioritizes travelers' safety.

Last month, travel protocol database Safe Travel Barometer looked into which airlines were the safest to fly during COVID-19. Using data collected from over 1,500 companies across 10 industry categories, 50 parameters, and traveler arrival information from more than 80 destinations, it graded airlines on a scale from one to five. This grade was based off scores in three categories: COVID-19 safety protocols, traveler convenience, and service excellence. The number score each airline was given became known as its Safe Travel Score.

Unfortunately, none of the airlines assessed earned a perfect score of five. However, there were still some stand outs when it came to keeping travelers safe. Below we break down which airlines received the highest Safe Travel Scores for both domestic and international flights.

Safe Travel Barometer ranks @emirates Top Global Airline Safe Travel Score in October 2020. Click the link to learn more https://t.co/yg1Nze006A
— Safe Travel Barometer (@SafeTravelTech) November 9, 2020

The Safest Airlines to Fly in North America During COVID-19

Delta Airlines
Air Canada
Southwest Airlines
Alaska Airlines
United Airlines
Air North
Allegiant Air
America Airlines
Air Transat
West Jet

Out of the 39 North American airlines assessed, Delta Air Lines was ranked number one in North America with a Safe Travel Score of 4.1 out of 5. Since the pandemic began, Delta has implemented various in-flight cleaning measures through its Delta CareStandard program, and has partnered with medical and sanitization experts. Delta has also blocked adjacent or middle seats through January 2021, to ensure adequate distance between passengers. On top of that, the airline also introduced traveler-friendly flexible cancellation and rebooking policies—which include a two-year credit note. Air Canada and Southwest tied for a close second, each earning a Safe Travel Score of 4.0.

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A post shared by Delta Air Lines (@delta)

You can learn more about the top North American airlines here.

The Safest Airlines to Fly Internationally During COVID-19

Emirates
Etihad Airways
Qatar Airways
Air China
Air France
China Southern Airlines
Delta Airlines
Iberia
Lufthansa
Oman Air

After over 230 airlines were assessed internationally, Emirates earned the highest Safe Travel Score score of 4.4. It earned this score due to its pro-traveler health and safety initiatives, as well as its generous amendment and cancellation policies. Travelers were also impressed with the airline’s clear communication of safety measures (including mandatory use of face masks in-flight), frequent cleaning of the toilets in-flight, and overall aircraft cleaning before or after every flight. Not to mention, Emirates became the first airline worldwide to offer free COVID-19 insurance cover to all its passengers as of July 2020.

A post shared by Emirates (@emirates)

You can learn more about the top airlines to fly globally here.

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