Recovery of the Airline Providers After Pandemics: Incorporating Quality Measures To Measure Technical Efficiency

This study measures how the COVID-19 shock altered airline efficiency worldwide. Quarterly data (2014-2024) for fleet, fuel, labor and maintenance inputs and traffic/output indicators are evaluated with DEA, including an extended network slack-based model that delivers both optimistic and pessimistic efficiency bounds. Results show a 14 % median drop in technical efficiency during 2020-2021, with only three carriers—Singapore Airlines, Swiss and Wizz Air - remaining fully efficient. By 2024, recovery is incomplete; half the airlines still operate below 95 % of their 2019 frontier level, and dual-frontier gaps reveal sizeable hidden slack. Additional analysis confirms that a strong “green” image and service reputation cushion the efficiency loss, explaining why brands like Emirates retain higher overall ratings despite similar operations. The findings stress a post-pandemic agenda that balances cost control with service quality and sustainability.