Air New Zealand ranks in the top four most trusted airlines, along with Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, according to a new independent global research study commissioned by information services provider, Unisys.
The Unisys Trusted Enterprise study revealed that air travellers in Asia Pacific rank their locally-based carriers to be more trusted than airlines based in Europe or America.
The study also found that Asia Pacific air travellers rank safety and security as the most important factor to build or erode trust in an airline.
"Trust is much more than simple customer satisfaction - it is a measure that businesses should carefully monitor and manage to ensure that their organisation is perceived as a trusted enterprise," said Suzanne Carter, Vice President, Commercial Industries, Unisys Asia Pacific.
"With the growing number of airlines in Asia Pacific, customers not only want to trust that you will have a safe flight, they want to trust that you will arrive on time and that your luggage will arrive with you."
Conducted in January 2008 by the Ponemon Institute, the research examined consumer trust of 40 major airlines in Asia, Europe and America by 2,869 respondents from New Zealand, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. It is part of the ongoing global Unisys Trusted Enterprise study which explores key factors that build and erode trust in companies across a range of industries and government agencies.
The results bode well for local airlines in the lead up to the Olympics.
"Trust will be a key factor when sports enthusiasts, holiday makers and convention organisers from across the region select which carrier they will use to fly in and out of Beijing," Carter said.
According to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, approximately twice as many New Zealanders will travel to Beijing for the Olympic Games from August 8-24 as travelled to the Athens Olympics.
Asia Pacific airlines made up seven of the top 10 most trusted airlines. The average score was .74 and the 20 carriers that occupied the "above average" position were all Asian, Middle East, or European carriers. American carriers all ranked in the bottom third.
