These are the Most Valuable Airlines in the World

American Airlines has remained the most valuable airline brand in the world, according to a new study with Delta Air Lines taking the second spot. More American companies round up the top spots with United coming in third. 

American Airlines remains the world’s most valuable airline brand, despite its brand value falling by 7% to US$9.1 billion. The other big, full service, US airlines each endured bumpy skies, including second-ranked Delta (down 6% to US$8.7 billion) and third-ranked United Airlines (down 2% to US$7.0 billion).

David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, commented: “In the airline market, customers are making decisions about brands on a very narrow range of factors: price, routing, and schedules. Despite big viral news stories which gained media attention globally affecting several brands, in the airline business, it is reliability on delivering core services that customers find key in taking purchasing decisions.”

Chinese brands, though, have seen major growth. They are “the big winners in this area as they have been able to grow their brands by giving customers greater confidence in their dependability and safety as they grow alongside the Chinese economy.”

The rest of the top ten is made up of Emirates (4th), Southwest Airlines (5th), China Southern Airlines (6th), China Eastern Airlines (7th), Air China (ninth) and Lufthansa (10th).