AirTran Airways, Hawaiian Airlines tops Airline Quality Ratings report

AirTran Airways topped the list of the annual Airline Quality Ratings report released this morning, followed by Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Of the 16 U.S. airlines ranked, American Eagle came in last.

The 21st annual Airline Quality Rating is a joint project by Wichita State University and Purdue University.

The ratings rank four elements: on-time performance, baggage handling, involuntary denied boardings and customer complaints.

The rankings changed most notably for Alaska Airlines, which moved from 11th place last year to fourth, and Delta Airlines, which rose from 15th place last year to seventh.

Here’s how the airlines performed:

1. AirTran

2. Hawaiian

3. JetBlue

4. Alaska

5. Southwest

6. US Airways

7. Delta

8. Continental

9. Frontier

10. SkyWest

11. American

12. United

13. Mesa

14. Comair

15. Atlantic Southeast

16. American Eagle

For the full report, click here.

This story was originally published April 4, 2011 at 10:31 AM with the headline "AirTran Airways, Hawaiian Airlines tops Airline Quality Ratings report."