Press Release

Japan Airlines (JAL) has been certified by Skytrax with a 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating, becoming one of the few airlines worldwide to achieve the accolade. The Skytrax COVID-19 Rating is a trusted assessment and certification of airline health and safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic that is based on professional and scientific investigation of the standards being provided by an airline at the airport and onboard flights.

Japan Airlines President, Yuji Akasaka, said “Since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the JAL Group has taken proactive steps to implement and strengthen key measures against COVID-19 to provide customers a safe and secure travel experience. Through the efforts of our dedicated staff at the JAL Group, it is certainly an honor to be certified and receive the highest 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. The JAL Group will continue to strengthen our COVID-19 measures and look forward to the day when people around the world can travel safely.”

Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said “Japan Airlines is a consistent industry leader in matters of cleanliness and hygiene, and we are delighted to see that the airline has reinforced these already robust protocols to lower the risks of coronavirus transmission. The airline has applied a great deal of Japanese logic and efficiency in the setup of high-movement areas such as check-in, boarding, and arrival, and has introduced practical and genuinely useful technologies to assist customers on their journey. The combination of factors here is vital to reinforce confidence in air travel.”

JAL’s 5-Star Key Measures
1) Well-measured portfolio of safety practices to reduce the risks related to the spread of COVID-19
- Enhancing physical distancing, and hand hygiene
- Increasing disinfection and cleaning protocols in the airport and onboard flights

2) Touchless technologies
- Domestic check-in and bag-drop
- Robot customer service assistants to help customers with flight information

Even prior to the global pandemic, Japan Airlines has maintained a high level of cleanliness, placing second worldwide by Skytrax in the recent Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness ranking. Over the past year, the carrier introduced key safety initiatives under the “JAL FlySafe Program”¹ and became one of the first airlines to adopt and implement the recommended guidelines as described in the International Civil Aviation Organization`s CART (Council Aviation Recovery Task Force) Take-off Guidance², and also offers complimentary COVID-19 coverage³ for international passengers.

The JAL Group will continue to adopt and implement key measures, as the airline fully understands the need to restore public confidence in air travel.

Note
1 About the JAL FlySafe Program 
2 ICAO CART Take-off Guidance - JAL Release 
3 About JAL COVID-19 Cover

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About Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines was founded in 1951 and became the first international airline in Japan. A member of the oneworld alliance, the airline now reaches 430 airports in 66 countries and regions together with its codeshare partners. Awarded as one of the most punctual major international airlines and a certified 5-Star Airline by Skytrax, JAL is committed to providing customers with the highest levels of flight safety and quality in every aspect of its service, and aims to become one of the most preferred and valued airlines in the world.

About Skytrax
Skytrax, the International air transport rating organisation, was established in 1989, and is based in London, United Kingdom. The World Airline Rating programme is a leading international Rating system operating since 1999, which classifies airlines by the quality of product and staff service.

In 2020, Skytrax launched the COVID-19 Safety Ratings covering airlines and airports across the world, providing independent, expert evaluation and certification of airline and airport COVID-19 hygiene and safety measures.