Lufthansa has received five-star certification from British aviation consulting specialist, Skytrax, making it the first airline outside Asia for this achievement. The quality rating for premium service and first-rate comfort has placed Lufthansa in the select group of now 10 airlines that have been given this coveted rating. The Skytrax jury has already been awarding five stars to Lufthansa first class for years — now the entire airline has received the same certification.
“The award is a well-deserved recognition of our major efforts to make Lufthansa one of the world’s leading premium airlines again,” said Carsten Spohr, chairman of the board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “We have caught up because we made huge investments in our fleet, updated all our cabins, introduced digital services, opened new lounges and improved service on board and on the ground. The combination of premium offerings with the quality and professionalism of our employees has earned Lufthansa the status of a five-star airline,” Spohr added. “Everyone at Lufthansa can be proud of this certification, especially our colleagues in the cabins and cockpits and on the ground who fulfil our premium promise every day in their interactions with our passengers. I am convinced that the most important factor in getting the fifth star was that we have the best airline employees.”
Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: “The achievement of 5-Star Airline status by Lufthansa is not only a great accolade as the first European airline to reach this target, but is a clear recognition of the improvements they have made in recent years, particularly in all areas of the front line service delivery.”
The testers at Skytrax travel with the perspective of a passenger. For their ratings, they evaluate the service quality of the respective airline with comprehensive assessments on the ground and in the air in up to 800 categories. These include the service on board, seat comfort, catering, security measures, in-flight entertainment, duty-free offers and many other services. For Skytrax, the consistency and constancy with which Lufthansa has forged ahead with the modernization of its product was a key consideration in the decision to award the fifth star. For instance, the cabins in first, business, premium economy and economy have been comprehensively upgraded over the last few years. The airline has also expanded its restaurant service from first class to business class, improving its personalized appeal to passengers in the process.
Lufthansa becomes Europe’s only five-star airline in Middle East
Lufthansa becomes Europe’s only five-star airline in Middle East
Jeeny launches First–Last Mile Access in partnership with Medina Bus
Jeeny has announced the introduction of its First-Last Mile Access Program in collaboration with Medina Bus, marking a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia's transportation reform.
Passengers who buy a Medina Bus ticket can now get discounted Jeeny rides to and from key bus stops, making public transportation more accessible for both residents and pilgrims.
While the initiative appears modest, it represents a far wider vision: the first operational phase of Jeeny's goal to develop Saudi Arabia's next-generation Integrated Mobility Platform, an integrated framework that will eventually connect numerous modes of transportation under one seamless consumer experience.
Medina was chosen as the launch location because of its national importance and growing demand for efficient transportation.
In 2024, the city's bus network handled 1.72 million people, and demand is predicted to increase further in 2025.
Medina, being one of the Kingdom's most popular destinations, provides a real-world setting for evaluating concepts that can then be scaled across the country.
“This marks the beginning of a mobility shift in Saudi Arabia, where public transport and private operators can work together to offer a seamless journey,” said Hammad Ehtesham, CEO of Jeeny. “Making it easier for people to reach public transport is the foundation of a future where every mode of mobility in the Kingdom connects effortlessly.”
With millions of rides every year in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Jeeny has developed into one of the top mobility platforms in the area.
The company, which employs over 400 people and has one of the biggest active driver networks in the Kingdom, is currently getting ready for its next stage: a nationwide mobility ecosystem that will support buses, ride-hailing, micro-mobility, pilgrim mobility services, and end-to-end travel solutions, including direct flight booking through Jeeny.
Despite the fact that Medina's First-Last Mile initiative is relatively new, early feedback shows that users are really interested in more accessible transportation options.
Similar First-Last Mile initiatives can increase public transportation usage by 15 to 25 percent, according to international research, underscoring the wider potential impact as Jeeny considers expanding to more Saudi cities.
“What begins in Medina will become a blueprint for the Kingdom’s connected mobility future,” Ehtesham added. “This is the first step toward a nationwide ecosystem that will make movement simpler, smarter, and more accessible for everyone.”
Passengers on Medina Bus are now able to make use of the Jeeny First-Last Mile Access Program, which supports Saudi Arabia's vision for contemporary, sustainable, and inclusive mobility while providing a new, more convenient means of accessing public transportation.
