The world's five most valuable airline brands saw brand value growth of at least 11%, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy. American brand Delta (brand value increased 21% to $10.8 billion) maintained its top position as the world's most valuable airline brand for the sixth consecutive year.
Similarly, other American brands, American Airlines (brand value increased 21% to $10.2 billion), United Airlines (brand value increased 11% to $8.7 billion), and Southwest Airlines ( brand value increased 15% to $5.4 billion). , they maintained their positions in 2nd, 3rd and 5th. Rounding out the top 5 of the world's most valuable airline brands, UAE brand Emirates (brand value up 30% to US$6.6 billion) defended its title as the fourth-largest airline brand in the world. most valuable airlines in the world.
The strongest airline brands in the world are ANA (brand value down 15% to $2 billion), followed by Indigo (brand value up 26% to $1.1 billion) and Emirates. ANA maintains its top spot with a brand strength rating of AAA-, while Indigo and Emirates rose from sixteenth and twelfth positions, respectively, the previous year.
The biggest improvements in brand value are made by British Airways, Jet2.com and Emirates. They demonstrated impressive double-digit brand value increases in 2024, reflecting their commitments to excellence, customer satisfaction and strategic brand management in the ever-competitive global airline sector. British Airways and Jet2.com recorded the largest increases in brand value with a 45% increase to $3.2 billion and a 34% increase to $949 million, respectively. In comparison, Emirates emerged as the third biggest improvement in brand value with a growth of 30%. Jet2.com's performance is even more impressive because it has surpassed its pre-pandemic brand value, while BA and Emirates have more or less recovered to their pre-pandemic valuations.
With global travel recovering after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, airline brands in the Middle East have seen a significant increase in traffic, with total traffic in 2023 almost returning to pre-pandemic levels. Middle East aviation was also expected to recover more quickly last year due to factors such as the ongoing expansion of the regional fleet, estimated at 5.1% annually over the next ten years, an increase in travel to the region due to the FIFA World Cup and aggressive campaigns by Saudi Arabia to attract tourists.
After Emirates took the crown of the Middle East's most valuable airline brand, Qatar Airways (brand value increased 27% to $3.1 billion) is the second most valuable brand in the Middle East, maintaining its ranking of brand strength in AA+. Next, Saudia (brand value increased 23% to $797 million) saw an upgrade in brand strength rating from A to A+, ahead of Etihad Airways (brand value increased 7% to $754 million), which maintained its AA brand strength rating. .
Savio D'Souza, Valuation Director at Brand Finance, commented:
“The sector has demonstrated tremendous resilience and the values of the top 50 brands have grown 39% since 2021, recovering to pre-pandemic levels. The outlook is expected to be challenging as supply constraints and an uncertain macroeconomic outlook will lead to single-digit sectoral growth; It is precisely in these conditions where companies that have optimized their investment in brand will tend to outperform the market.”
Brand Finance also uses its Global Brand Equity Monitor (GBEM) research to compile a Sustainability Perception Index that determines the role of sustainability in driving brand consideration across sectors. In the airline sector, sustainability drives 6.5% of customer consideration. Brand Finance perception data also offers insight into which brands global consumers believe are most committed to sustainability.
In addition to ranking the world's most valuable airline brands, the Brand Finance Airlines 50 report also ranks the world's most valuable airport brands. This year, London Heathrow Airport has increased its brand value by almost a quarter to a total of $832 million to regain its position as the world's most valuable airport brand. Last year's top-ranked airport brand, Paris Aeroport, increased its brand value just 13% to $779 million and is now the second most valuable airport brand in the world.