Airlines

These are the World’s Most Valuable Airline Points Programs for 2023

SkyMiles, the frequent flyer program of Delta Air Lines, is the world’s most valuable airline loyalty program, according to the On Point Loyalty 2023 Top 100 Most Valuable Airline Loyalty Programs report. With an estimated value of more than USD 27 billion, SkyMiles sets a record in the On Point Loyalty ranking. American Airlines AAdvantage comes in second place at more than USD 23 billion, followed by United Airlines’ MileagePlus at over USD 22 billion.

Once the best-kept secret of the airline industry, loyalty programs irreversibly stepped onto the center stage of global airline economics during the COVID pandemic, with many airlines banking on their programs for survival. Record-breaking financing structures relied on the profitability and consistency of earnings of airline loyalty programs.

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American Airlines Announces Big Changes for AAdvantage Program(Opens in a new browser tab)

On Point Loyalty’s research once again examined public information on over 170 airlines around the world, supplemented by proprietary insights to determine an estimated value for each airline’s loyalty program. Over 50 variables relating to the airline, loyalty program, and operating country were incorporated into On Point Loyalty’s proprietary valuation algorithm.

The research identified the top 10 most valuable airline loyalty programs are as follows:

Rank	Program Advertisement	Key Airline(s)	Valuation (USD million)
1	SkyMiles Advertisement	Delta Air Lines	27,923
2	AAdvantage Advertisement	American Airlines	23,933
3	MileagePlus Advertisement	United Airlines	22,002
4	Rapid Rewards Advertisement	Southwest Airlines	8,828
5	Miles & More Advertisement	Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Brussels Airlines	7,971
6	IAG Avios programs Advertisement	British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling	7,084
7	Flying Blue Advertisement	Air France, KLM, Kenya Airways, Tarom	6,923
8	Aeroplan Advertisement	Air Canada	6,840
9	SKYPASS Advertisement	Korean Air	4,594
10	Cathay Advertisement	Cathay Pacific	4,552

The full list of top 100 programs is available on the website of On Point Loyalty. For more information on the results, methodology, assumptions and insights in the research, visit www.onpointloyalty.com.

Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

Soon, Air India aircraft will feature onboard WiFi & all-new cabins: Click here

“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.