Airlines

All Nippon Airways earns SKYTRAX 5-Star rating for 10 consecutive years

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline has received the prestigious 5-Star designation from SKYTRAX for the tenth consecutive year. Only 10 airlines worldwide have received the highest 5-Star Airline Rating, and to receive this honor for ten years in a row is a testament to the hard work, dedication and hospitality shown by ANA employees on a daily basis.

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“As ANA celebrates our 70th anniversary of operations this year, we are grateful for our customers, employees and all who have supported and helped us to receive the SKYTRAX 5-Star rating for the 10th consecutive year,” said Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA. “As we look to celebrating more milestones, we will continue our pursuit to set the global standard for comfort, convenience and service for passengers across the globe.”

Edward Plaisted of SKYTRAX said: “It is a great achievement for All Nippon Airways (ANA) to achieve this highest 5-Star Airline accolade for the tenth consecutive year, and it is a clear recognition of ANA’s dedication to continuous quality improvement that the airline provides to its customers. A stand out point for ANA achieving this latest 5-Star Airline recognition is the very high and consistent standards of service efficiency and the ANA dedication to provide the best product to customers.”

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The 5-Star Airline Rating is the prestigious and unique mark of Quality Achievement and a global benchmark of Airline Excellence, awarded following the professional audit analysis and assessment of airline product and front-line service standards. The World Airline Star Rating was introduced by Skytrax in 1999, and is a premier evaluation system grading airline quality standards.

The 5-Star Airline Rating recognises those airlines providing very high standards of Airport and Onboard Product, together with consistent and high standards of staff service across both the airport and onboard service environments.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.