Air Canada has come up aces with students in an annual survey of global airlines. The carrier scored top marks in six Canada categories in the 3rd annual Airline Awards by StudentUniverse, the world’s largest student and youth travel marketplace. American Airlines similarly swept all categories in the US.
The Boston-based organization, which launched in 2000, and was acquired by Flight Centre in 2015, is one of world’s largest travel companies, and uses its student and youth traveller database to determine annual award winners in four countries, also including the UK, and Australia.
Students voted for airlines that “stood above the rest” in six categories, including overall experience, value and service, and a new addition this year, “Safest During Covid-19,” the latter enabling student travellers to commend airlines for their responses to keeping travellers healthy and cared for during travel throughout the pandemic.
In Canada, the awards were a clean sweep for Air Canada, including “best overall airline.” Other categories the airline won included Best for international travel; Best for travel within Canada; Best value for students and youth in 2021; Best service for students and youth in 2021; and Safest during COVID-19.
Students called the airline “most reliable,” “cheapest,” and “very accommodating.”
“Air Canada is very proud to have won in all six Canadian categories in this year’s Student Universe annual survey and we thank the students who travel with us for their loyalty,” commented company VP Lisa Pierce. “The student demographic is highly discerning, and we are pleased to be able to respond to their unique needs. Today’s students are tomorrow’s frequent business and leisure travellers, which is why we are committed to continually elevate our services to ensure this relationship remains strong far into the future.”
In other regions the winners were:
US
• All categories: American Airlines
UNITED KINGDOM
• Best for international travel: British Airways
• Best for travel within Europe: British Airways
• Best value for students and youth in 2021: Ryanair
• Best service for students and youth in 2021: Turkish Airlines
• Safest during COVID-19: British Airways
• Overall best airline for students and youth in 2021: British Airways
AUSTRALIA
• Best for international travel: Qantas Airways
• Best for travel within Australia: Virgin Australia
• Best value for students and youth in 2021: Virgin Australia
• Best service for students and youth in 2021: Virgin Australia
• Safest during COVID-19: Virgin Australia
• Overall best airline for students and youth in 2021: Virgin Australia