Like all other major Chinese airlines, Air China was formed after the end of CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) at the end of the 1980s. Today, it is the Country’s third airline in terms of fleet size after China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. It is one of only three airlines in the world (the other two being Lufthansa and Korean Air) to operate the latest and most advanced passenger version of the Jumbo, the Boeing 747-8 (Photo Wikimedia Commons / N509FZ)
- - 5 STARS: Awarded to airlines achieving a very high, overall quality performance. It recognizes high standards of onboard product together with consistent and excellent standards of staff service across airport and cabin environments
- - 4 STARS: Awarded to airlines that deliver a good overall quality performance and provide good product standards across different travel cabins
- - 3 STARS: Awarded to airlines delivering a fair quality performance equating to the industry 'average' of acceptable product and service standards
- - 2 STARS: Shows airlines delivering a lower total quality performance, in some instances below the industry average across many rating categories
- - 1 STAR: Represents a poor quality of product delivered across the assessment sectors
* SKYTRAX (www.skytraxratings.com) is the most prestigious independent rating agency in commercial aviation. Its five stars rating system regarding airline quality has become a status symbol for carriers around the world. Here is what the stars stand for: