Airline Quality Rating Report

The Airline Quality Rating (AQR) was developed and first announced in early 1991 by co-authors Dr. Brent Bowen and Dr. Dean Headley as an objective method for assessing airline quality using multiple performance criteria combined into a single, comparative score. After the retirement of both Drs. Bowen and Headley, Dr. Andrea Irish was invited to continue this research. The current report, the Airline Quality Rating 2025, reflects Airline Quality Rating scores for calendar year 2024 and 2023 due to the one-year gap in its release while transitioning authors.

The AQR scores for both 2023 and 2024 are based on four major areas that focus on aspects of airline performance important to air travel consumers. Using the AQR system of weighted averages and monthly performance data in the areas of on-time arrivals, involuntary denied boardings, mishandled baggage, and customer complaints, this report presents comparative performance across airlines for the calendar year 2023 and 2024.

This research monograph includes a summary of the AQR methodology, detailed data tables and charts that track comparative quality for domestic airline operations across the 24-month period of 2023–2024, and overall industry results. Comparative Airline Quality Rating data from 2022 are also included, where available, to provide historical perspective on performance quality trends within the industry.

Dr. Bowen’s and Dr. Headley’s research on the development of the national Airline Quality Rating (AQR) is viewed by more than 75 million people each year and is annually featured by national news outlets such as ABC’s Good Morning America, The Cable News Network, The Today Show, C-Span, USA Today, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Aviation Week and Space Technology, the network evening news shows, and in numerous other national and international media. Bowen and Headley have served as invited expert witnesses before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations and have served as invited speakers and panelists for such groups as the National Academy of Sciences/Transportation Research Board, Department of Transportation and other Congressional and Executive panels. Following the retirement of both Drs. Bowen and Headley, Dr. Andrea Irish is continuing this valuable research.

For more information please contact Dr. Andrea Irish at irisha2@erau.edu or 928-777-6807.