American and Delta Still Most Favoured Airlines in US

Despite their ongoing economic struggles, American Airlines and Delta Airlines are still America's favorite carriers according to a recent survey by Decision Analyst, Inc.

However, on a less positive note for the big airlines, the survey (completed by a nationally representative sample of 5,184 consumers who travel by air at least once per year) found that cost is now the number one criterion when deciding which airline to fly with.

Survey respondents were asked to pick which airline they would choose to fly on if all airlines offered identical direct flights at the same fare. Both casual (travelling by air one or more times a year) and frequent (one or more times a month) fliers selected the big two (by passenger volume), American and Delta, as their airlines of choice (19 percent for both airlines with casual respondents, 22 percent for American and 17 percent for Delta among frequent fliers).

Beyond these two, however, opinions separated between casual and frequent fliers. Southwest, now up to third in passenger numbers, was similarly placed as third most popular by casual travellers. Frequent fliers disagreed, putting United next (at 11 percent), and leaving Southwest in a tie for fourth with Continental.

More information, including detailed data breakdowns, from the study is available online at www.decisionanalyst.com/publ_data/2003/BrandAwareness.asp

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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