Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been rated one of the worst among 21 airlines in a UK-based airline ranking system, according to reports.
Australian travel news agency Traveller.com.au published the report yesterday, which entailed details of world’s worst airlines based on Skytrax rankings, a web-based airline and airport rating and review platform.
Skytrax released the rankings through stars – with the worst being one star to the best being five stars. On it, Biman was rated two stars, along with Iran Air, Syrian Air and Air Italy, becoming one of the second worst airlines on the list.
According to the Skytrax website, a two-star airline rating signifies an inconsistent or lower quality of product and/or front-line staff service for the on-board and home-base airport environments.
North Korea’s Koryo Air was the only one to be ranked worst with one star. ANA All Nippon Airways of Japan, Asiana Airways of South Korea and Singapore Airlines were among the few to receive a five-star rating.
A globally recognised worldwide airline rating system which was introduced in 1999, Skytrax World Airline Star Rating classifies airlines by the quality of their front-line product and staff service standards. The star ratings are recognised as a global benchmark of airline standards.
Biman Bangladesh, which received a customer rating of 5/10, was reviewed on the website to have a “totally disorganised” check-in system.
Biman operates flights in 22 international destinations, most of which are loss-incurring. According to a 2014 Dhaka Tribune report, the national flag carrier incurred a loss of Tk594 crore in the 2011-12 fiscal year and Tk191 crore in 2012-13.
The airline has long been ill-reputed for its notoriously inconsistent scheduling, lack of organisational skills and poor customer service.
Following the publishing of the report, a reader commented yesterday on popular social media site Facebook: “It’s fitting that the 2nd least livable city in the world is home to a 2-star airline.”
