Prediction of Skytrax airline rankings, short formula (2011) (2e)

[PEREZGONZALEZ Jose D (2011). Prediction of Skytrax airline rankings, short formula (2011) (2e)4. Journal of Knowledge Advancement & Integration (ISSN 1177-4576), 2012, pages 209-218.] [Printer friendly] [YouTube channel] [Screenr channel]

Prediction of airline rankings

Perezgonzalez continued a previous study by Perezgonzalez and Gilbey (20103), attempting to predict Skytrax's 2011 Official World Airline Star rankings from average ratings that passengers had given to those airlines, independently, on Skytrax's website. The regression formula was based on a single variable, the average 'Customer review scoring', which is a cumulative average of past ratings, including those given during 2011.

The short regression formula for predicting Skytrax's 2011 ranking was:

Predicted Skytrax Ranking = 1.634 + (0.289 * Customer review scoring)
(F = 109.047, p = 0.00; R = 0.673; R2 = 0.452; Adj.R = 0.669; Adj.R2 = 0.448)

Table 1 shows the actual ranking given by Skytrax, the predicted 'ranking' obtained from above formula, the customer average rating used as predictor and the same customer average rating adjusted to a scale ranging between 1 and 5 in order to facilitate comparisons with the other scores. Overall, 67% of the research airlines could be ranked in approximately the same hierarchy than the one provided by Skytrax. Furthermore, it may be possible to also rank correctly 67% of the remaining airlines not ranked by Skytrax (adj.R).

Table 1. Predicted and actual scores  
Airline Customer Customer (adj) Predicted Skytrax
Qatar Airways 9.10 4.64 4.26 5.00
Hainan Airlines 8.90 4.56 4.21 5.00
Singapore Airlines 8.70 4.48 4.15 5.00
Bangkok Airways 8.60 4.44 4.12 4.00
Asiana Airlines 8.50 4.40 4.09 5.00
Kingfisher Airlines 8.50 4.40 4.09 5.00
Garuda Indonesia 8.50 4.40 4.09 4.00
Aegean Airlines 8.40 4.36 4.06 3.00
NIKI 8.20 4.28 4.00 3.00
Silk Air 8.10 4.24 3.97 4.00
Pacific Blue 8.00 4.20 3.95 4.00
Southwest Airlines 8.00 4.20 3.95 3.00
Oman Air 7.80 4.12 3.89 4.00
Porter Airlines 7.80 4.12 3.89 4.00
Virgin Australia 7.70 4.08 3.86 4.00
ANA 7.60 4.04 3.83 4.00
JetBlue Airways 7.60 4.04 3.83 4.00
Air Asia X 7.50 4.00 3.80 3.00
Qantas Airways 7.40 3.96 3.77 4.00
Dragonair 7.30 3.92 3.74 4.00
Japan Airlines 7.30 3.92 3.74 4.00
Malaysia Airlines 7.20 3.88 3.71 5.00
Swiss Int'l Air Lines 7.20 3.88 3.71 4.00
TACA International 7.20 3.88 3.71 3.00
Olympic Air 7.10 3.84 3.69 3.00
Cathay Pacific 7.00 3.80 3.66 5.00
Thai Airways 6.90 3.76 3.63 4.00
EVA Air 6.80 3.72 3.60 4.00
Aer Lingus 6.80 3.72 3.60 3.00
Air Asia 6.80 3.72 3.60 3.00
Air Astana 6.80 3.72 3.60 3.00
Air New Zealand 6.70 3.68 3.57 4.00
Finnair 6.70 3.68 3.57 4.00
China Airlines 6.60 3.64 3.54 4.00
Air Austral 6.50 3.60 3.51 3.00
Korean Air 6.40 3.56 3.48 4.00
South African Airways 6.40 3.56 3.48 4.00
Austrian Airlines 6.30 3.52 3.45 4.00
EasyJet 6.30 3.52 3.45 3.00
Royal Brunei Airlines 6.30 3.52 3.45 3.00
WestJet 6.30 3.52 3.45 3.00
Air Berlin 6.20 3.48 3.43 3.00
PIA Pakistan International 6.10 3.44 3.40 3.00
Lufthansa 6.00 3.40 3.37 4.00
Turkish Airlines 6.00 3.40 3.37 4.00
Croatia Airlines 6.00 3.40 3.37 3.00
KLM 6.00 3.40 3.37 3.00
LAN Airlines 6.00 3.40 3.37 3.00
Malev Hungarian Airlines 6.00 3.40 3.37 3.00
Air Malta 5.90 3.36 3.34 3.00
Brussels Airlines 5.90 3.36 3.34 3.00
Germanwings 5.90 3.36 3.34 3.00
Onur Air 5.90 3.36 3.34 2.00
British Airways 5.80 3.32 3.31 4.00
Norwegian 5.80 3.32 3.31 3.00
Philipines Airlines 5.80 3.32 3.31 3.00
Ukraine International Airlines 5.80 3.32 3.31 2.00
Alaska Airlines 5.70 3.28 3.28 3.00
Jetstar Asia 5.70 3.28 3.28 3.00
SriLankan Airlines 5.70 3.28 3.28 3.00
Emirates Airlines 5.60 3.24 3.25 4.00
Air Transat 5.60 3.24 3.25 3.00
AirTran Airways 5.60 3.24 3.25 3.00
JetStar Airways 5.60 3.24 3.25 3.00
Vietnam Airlines 5.60 3.24 3.25 3.00
Air Canada 5.50 3.20 3.22 3.00
LOT Polish Airlines 5.50 3.20 3.22 3.00
Royal Jordanian Airlines 5.50 3.20 3.22 3.00
Air France 5.40 3.16 3.19 4.00
Cebu Air 5.40 3.16 3.19 3.00
Hawaiian Airlines 5.40 3.16 3.19 3.00
Thomson Airways 5.40 3.16 3.19 3.00
Allegiant Air 5.30 3.12 3.17 3.00
bmi British Midland 5.30 3.12 3.17 3.00
Cyprus Airways 5.30 3.12 3.17 3.00
Jet2.com 5.30 3.12 3.17 3.00
Etihad Airways 5.20 3.08 3.14 4.00
Avianca 5.20 3.08 3.14 3.00
Copa Airlines 5.20 3.08 3.14 3.00
CSA Czech Airlines 5.20 3.08 3.14 3.00
Frontier Airlines 5.20 3.08 3.14 3.00
Air China 5.10 3.04 3.11 4.00
Icelandair 5.10 3.04 3.11 3.00
Shanghai Airlines 5.10 3.04 3.11 3.00
Bulgaria Air 5.10 3.04 3.11 2.00
Continental Airlines 5.00 3.00 3.08 3.00
Jet Airways 5.00 3.00 3.08 3.00
SAS Scandinavian Airlines 5.00 3.00 3.08 3.00
Vueling Airlines 5.00 3.00 3.08 3.00
Alitalia 4.70 2.88 2.99 3.00
Transaero Airlines 4.70 2.88 2.99 3.00
Aeroflot 4.60 2.84 2.96 3.00
Air Baltic 4.60 2.84 2.96 3.00
Air Pacific 4.60 2.84 2.96 3.00
China Eastern Airlines 4.60 2.84 2.96 3.00
Condor Airlines 4.60 2.84 2.96 3.00
Uzbekistan Airways 4.60 2.84 2.96 2.00
China Southern Airlines 4.50 2.80 2.93 4.00
Air Mauritius 4.50 2.80 2.93 3.00
El Al Israel Airlines 4.40 2.76 2.91 3.00
Gulf Air 4.40 2.76 2.91 3.00
TAP Air Portugal 4.40 2.76 2.91 3.00
Pegasus Airlines 4.40 2.76 2.91 2.00
Meridiana 4.30 2.72 2.88 3.00
Monarch Airlines 4.30 2.72 2.88 3.00
Wizz Air 4.30 2.72 2.88 2.00
Aerolineas Argentinas 4.20 2.68 2.85 3.00
TAM Airlines 4.20 2.68 2.85 3.00
Air India 4.10 2.64 2.82 3.00
Egyptair 4.10 2.64 2.82 3.00
United Airlines 4.10 2.64 2.82 3.00
Ethiopian Airlines 4.00 2.60 2.79 3.00
Kuwait Airways 4.00 2.60 2.79 3.00
Saudi Arabian Airlines 4.00 2.60 2.79 3.00
Aeromexico 3.90 2.56 2.76 3.00
Virgin Atlantic 3.90 2.56 2.76 3.00
Delta Airlines 3.80 2.52 2.73 3.00
Spanair 3.80 2.52 2.73 3.00
Tiger Airways 3.70 2.48 2.70 3.00
Air Europa 3.60 2.44 2.67 3.00
Air Seychelles 3.60 2.44 2.67 3.00
Cubana Airlines 3.60 2.44 2.67 2.00
Kenya Airways 3.50 2.40 2.65 3.00
American Airlines 3.40 2.36 2.62 3.00
Iberia 3.30 2.32 2.59 3.00
US Airways 3.30 2.32 2.59 3.00
Spirit Airlines 3.10 2.24 2.53 3.00
flyBe 3.00 2.20 2.50 3.00
Ryanair 2.90 2.16 2.47 2.00
Thomas Cook Airlines 2.40 1.96 2.33 3.00
bmibaby 2.40 1.96 2.33 2.00
Aerosvit Airlines 2.00 1.80 2.21 2.00
Royal Air Maroc 1.90 1.76 2.18 2.00
Iceland Express 1.70 1.68 2.13 2.00
(The 'Customer (adj)' column shows customer scores on a 1-5 scale, thus facilitating comparisons with the other variables)

The regression formula obtained in this study is relatively similar to that obtained in 2010. In order to ascertain how fit these formulas may be for predicting future Skytrax airline rankings, a simulation was carried out in order to predict the 2011 ranking using the 2010 formula. A good correlation between the results of the simulation and the 2011 prediction could then be taken as evidence in support of such fit. A low correlation could be taken as evidence against such fit.

Table 2 collates the predictions made for 2010 (using the 2010 formula, see Perezgonzalez, 2010 1), for 2011 (using the 2011 formula), and the results of the simulation predicting 2011 ranking using the 2010 formula. The correlation between the 2010 ranking and the simulation ranking was 92% (r=0.92), while there was a perfect positive correlation between the 2011 ranking and the simulation ranking (r=1.00).

Table 2. Predicted scores for 2010, 2011 using 2010 formula, and 2011  
Airline 2010 prediction Simulation 2011 prediction
Qatar Airways 4.24 4.32 4.26
Hainan Airlines 4.18 4.26 4.21
Singapore Airlines 4.06 4.21 4.15
Bangkok Airways 4.15 4.18 4.12
Asiana Airlines 4.29 4.15 4.09
Kingfisher Airlines 4.12 4.15 4.09
Garuda Indonesia 4.03 4.15 4.09
Aegean Airlines 4.15 4.12 4.06
NIKI --- 4.06 4.00
Silk Air 4.00 4.03 3.97
Pacific Blue --- 4.00 3.95
Southwest Airlines 4.06 4.00 3.95
Oman Air 3.68 3.94 3.89
Porter Airlines 4.00 3.94 3.89
Virgin Australia --- 3.92 3.86
ANA 3.89 3.89 3.83
JetBlue Airways 3.86 3.89 3.83
Air Asia X 3.42 3.86 3.80
Qantas Airways 4.12 3.83 3.77
Dragonair 3.77 3.80 3.74
Japan Airlines 3.57 3.80 3.74
Malaysia Airlines 3.77 3.77 3.71
Swiss Int'l Air Lines 3.57 3.77 3.71
TACA International 3.86 3.77 3.71
Olympic Air --- 3.74 3.69
Cathay Pacific 3.65 3.71 3.66
Thai Airways 3.80 3.68 3.63
EVA Air 3.65 3.65 3.60
Aer Lingus 3.68 3.65 3.60
Air Asia 3.42 3.65 3.60
Air Astana --- 3.65 3.60
Air New Zealand 3.92 3.62 3.57
Finnair 3.33 3.62 3.57
China Airlines 3.68 3.60 3.54
Air Austral --- 3.57 3.51
Korean Air 3.45 3.54 3.48
South African Airways 3.57 3.54 3.48
Austrian Airlines 3.62 3.51 3.45
EasyJet 2.58 3.51 3.45
Royal Brunei Airlines 3.45 3.51 3.45
WestJet --- 3.51 3.45
Air Berlin 3.71 3.48 3.43
PIA Pakistan International --- 3.45 3.40
Lufthansa 3.60 3.42 3.37
Turkish Airlines 3.48 3.42 3.37
Croatia Airlines --- 3.42 3.37
KLM 3.25 3.42 3.37
LAN Airlines 3.62 3.42 3.37
Malev Hungarian Airlines 3.42 3.42 3.37
Air Malta --- 3.39 3.34
Brussels Airlines 3.28 3.39 3.34
Germanwings --- 3.39 3.34
Onur Air 3.36 3.39 3.34
British Airways 3.68 3.36 3.31
Norwegian --- 3.36 3.31
Philipines Airlines 3.54 3.36 3.31
Ukraine International Airlines --- 3.36 3.31
Alaska Airlines 3.57 3.33 3.28
Jetstar Asia --- 3.33 3.28
SriLankan Airlines 3.19 3.33 3.28
Emirates Airlines 3.04 3.30 3.25
Air Transat --- 3.30 3.25
AirTran Airways --- 3.30 3.25
JetStar Airways --- 3.30 3.25
Vietnam Airlines 3.28 3.30 3.25
Air Canada 3.33 3.28 3.22
LOT Polish Airlines 3.28 3.28 3.22
Royal Jordanian Airlines 3.19 3.28 3.22
Air France 3.57 3.25 3.19
Cebu Air --- 3.25 3.19
Hawaiian Airlines --- 3.25 3.19
Thomson Airways 3.57 3.25 3.19
Allegiant Air --- 3.22 3.17
bmi British Midland 3.51 3.22 3.17
Cyprus Airways --- 3.22 3.17
Jet2.com --- 3.22 3.17
Etihad Airways 3.30 3.19 3.14
Avianca 3.57 3.19 3.14
Copa Airlines --- 3.19 3.14
CSA Czech Airlines 3.16 3.19 3.14
Frontier Airlines 3.39 3.19 3.14
Air China 2.98 3.16 3.11
Icelandair 3.28 3.16 3.11
Shanghai Airlines --- 3.16 3.11
Bulgaria Air --- 3.16 3.11
Continental Airlines 3.16 3.13 3.08
Jet Airways --- 3.13 3.08
SAS Scandinavian Airlines 3.16 3.13 3.08
Vueling Airlines --- 3.13 3.08
Alitalia 2.81 3.04 2.99
Transaero Airlines --- 3.04 2.99
Aeroflot 3.10 3.01 2.96
Air Baltic --- 3.01 2.96
Air Pacific --- 3.01 2.96
China Eastern Airlines 2.78 3.01 2.96
Condor Airlines --- 3.01 2.96
Uzbekistan Airways --- 3.01 2.96
China Southern Airlines 3.01 2.98 2.93
Air Mauritius 2.98 2.98 2.93
El Al Israel Airlines 3.04 2.96 2.91
Gulf Air 2.84 2.96 2.91
TAP Air Portugal 3.13 2.96 2.91
Pegasus Airlines 3.07 2.96 2.91
Meridiana 3.01 2.93 2.88
Monarch Airlines --- 2.93 2.88
Wizz Air --- 2.93 2.88
Aerolineas Argentinas 2.75 2.90 2.85
TAM Airlines 2.98 2.90 2.85
Air India 3.01 2.87 2.82
Egyptair 2.96 2.87 2.82
United Airlines 3.01 2.87 2.82
Ethiopian Airlines 2.84 2.84 2.79
Kuwait Airways 2.84 2.84 2.79
Saudi Arabian Airlines 2.81 2.84 2.79
Aeromexico --- 2.81 2.76
Virgin Atlantic 3.16 2.81 2.76
Delta Airlines 2.87 2.78 2.73
Spanair 2.98 2.78 2.73
Tiger Airways 2.87 2.75 2.70
Air Europa 2.72 2.72 2.67
Air Seychelles 2.61 2.72 2.67
Cubana Airlines 2.72 2.72 2.67
Kenya Airways 2.78 2.69 2.65
American Airlines 2.78 2.66 2.62
Iberia 2.84 2.64 2.59
US Airways 2.66 2.64 2.59
Spirit Airlines 2.81 2.58 2.53
flyBe 2.81 2.55 2.50
Ryanair 2.26 2.52 2.47
Thomas Cook Airlines --- 2.37 2.33
bmibaby --- 2.37 2.33
Aerosvit Airlines 2.69 2.26 2.21
Royal Air Maroc 2.23 2.23 2.18
Iceland Express --- 2.17 2.13
(The simulation column shows the predicted ranking for 2011 when using the 2010 formula)

Author

Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2012). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalezJDPerezgonzalez).

Peer-reviewers

Nicholas ASHLEY (2012). School of Aviation, Massey University, New Zealand (NickAshleyNickAshley).

Want to know more?

Skytrax's website
Skytrax offers the latest rankings for airports and airlines, as well as independent reviews of those by passengers.
Wiki of Science - Prediction of Skytrax 2010 airline rankings
Perezgonzalez et al's (2010) article expanded with actual data and predicted scores per airline.
Wiki of Science - Prediction of Skytrax airport rankings
Wiki of Science offers access to both 2010's and 2011's predictions for airports.

BlinkListblogmarksdel.icio.usdiggFarkfeedmelinksFurlLinkaGoGoNewsVineNetvouzRedditYahooMyWebFacebook

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License