About Airline Industry Classification

Airlines are regulated and classfied by different rating bodies and government groups.

There's a lot to consider when taking a flight, including which airlines to trust as part of the process of getting from point A to B. Governments and third-party, private organizations alike classify and rank airlines to help you make an informed decision.

U.S. Government Classification

The Department of Transportation breaks airlines down into three categories based on annual revenue. An international airline is an airline that generates more than a billion dollars per year. There are 14 airlines classified as international in the U.S. as of November 2010. Domestic airlines have revenues between $100 million and one billion dollars, but some fly between countries. The third classification is regional airlines, with revenues under $100 million and additional specifications like the size of fleet and types of planes.

World Airline Ranking

A second type of classification is by level of service. The Skytrax Airline Star-Ranking System evaluates all airlines and awards a rating between one and five stars. The rating is derived from examining 800 areas of service and products offered. In 2010, there were only six five-star-rated airlines worldwide.

Travel Classifications

Airlines have their own internal classifications for seating and rewards programs, with particular flight routes offering economy, business and first-class services and with different rewards and mileage programs.

References

• U.S. Department of Transportation: Airline Classification
• Skytrax: Offical World Airline Star Ranking