TORONTO — Dedication to the highest health and safety standards has its rewards, as Air France and KLM recently found out.

Both airlines were awarded the Diamond Award, the highest distinction in its category, at the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying awards ceremony.

The event recognizes airlines for their efforts at implementing the strictest health and safety measures.

The awards were bestowed following a complete audit of the Air France’s ‘Air France Protect’ health and safety measures, as well as KLM’s health and safety measures. 

Air France and KLM place the health and safety of their customers and staff at the heart of their priorities, and that was recognized by APEX Health Safety (the Airline Passengers Experience Association).

Says Fabien Pelous, SVP Customer Experience at Air France: “This new distinction is a source of pride and an honour for all the Air France teams who are mobilized on a daily basis to ensure the health and safety and wellbeing of our customers at this unprecedented time. It is also a great sign of confidence for our customers who continue to choose us for safe travel.”

With ‘Air France Protect’, Air France offers its customers a safe travel experience by implementing the strictest health measures both on the ground and on board, as well as a fully flexible commercial policy and a new travel insurance cover for epidemic-related risks.

“Air France has set up a solid strategy to battle COVID-19 virus on their own field,” says Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying. “Such health safety measures as improved ventilation in closed spaces and constantly adapted onboard service make passengers feel comfortable without compromising safety throughout the whole journey with an airline. Hospital-grade measures of Air France make this airline a safety leader in the pandemic world.”

Boet Kreiken, Executive Vice President Customer Experience KLM, says KLM has made the health and hygiene of its customers, employees and society as a whole its #1 priority in these times, with its comprehensive COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

“Achieving the highest possible level of APEX certification means that KLM is one of the leading airlines in the field of hygiene and health safety. People choose to travel with us, because we fly responsibly. That is why we have analyzed our entire customer journey this year and set the highest possible standard to ensure optimal health and hygiene for our customers, before, during and after their journey. This highest APEX status is an important guarantee for travellers that they are flying safely with KLM at the highest possible level worldwide,” says Kreiken.

Both Air France and KLM note that APEX Health Safety sets the industry standard for customer-centric COVID-19 certification.

APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association), founded 42 years ago, is a recognized research and evaluation organization in the field of customer travel experience. Its network includes the world’s leading airlines, airports, alliances, suppliers and associated companies committed to improving the air travel experience. 

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, APEX created the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying Award to encourage airlines to take a protactive role in the resumption of safe travel, and to create a common standard for passenger health and safety.