For many years one of the largest Asian carriers, Philippines Airlines (also known as PAL) exited hugely downsized from the 1997 economical crisis, as in point of fleet as of network destinations. It took a decade before the carrier was able to proceed with a fleet renewal and network expansion that took it to serve Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Oceania and North America with a young fleet of last-generations aircraft including the A350-900 and the A32neo. In 2018 PAL obtained the prestigious 4-STAR rating from Skytrax and in 2019 it has been the “world’s most improved airline” according to airlineratings.com (Photo Wikimedia Commons / Steve Lynes)
- - 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: