Aviation magazine awards airlines
Singapore Airlines has been awarded as the best airline of the year, according to an opinion poll of frequent fliers out of Bangladesh.
Emirates was rated as the best cargo carrier, Novoair the best domestic airline and Kuala Lumpur as the most popular destination.
The opinion poll was carried out by travel trade publication Bangladesh Monitor and supported by Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel as the hospitality partner.
The airlines received the 'Monitor Airline of the Year 2014' awards at a ceremony held at Sonargaon Hotel on Sunday.
Rashed Khan Menon, civil aviation and tourism minister, presented the awards to the winners.
The magazine introduced the awards aiming to judge the service standards of the airlines operating in Bangladesh and recognise the best service providers.
“The aviation sector has been growing by the year, which proves that Bangladesh has the potential to become a regional aviation hub,” Menon said.
The government is working relentlessly to turn the national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, into a modern and profitable airline, he said.
The government has procured a number of new aircraft and will procure more in the next few years, he added.
Initiatives have been taken to improve ground handling at airports in the country, and it will improve extensively by next year, the minister said.
Singapore Airlines also won awards for having the best business class, best long-haul airline and best frequent flyer programme awards, according to the frequent fliers opinion poll.
Emirates Airline won awards for the best economy class and best in-flight entertainment programme.
The best short-haul airline award went to Bangkok Airways, while the best budget carrier award went to Malindo Air.
Thai Airways was awarded for the best in-flight meal in economy class, while Turkish Airlines for the best in-flight meal in business class. The best air express company award went to DHL Express.
The special jury board award went to Biman for its commendable hajj operations in 2014.
A total of 2,147 frequent fliers expressed their views on the poll.
A 10-member independent jury board compromising professionals from different sectors, like the corporate world, media, travel and hospitality trade, reviewed the data and selected the winners in 14 categories.
Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, civil aviation and tourism secretary, Kazi Wahidul Alam, editor of Bangladesh Monitor, and AKM Shamsuddin, chairman of Monitor Airline of the Year Jury Board, also spoke.
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