Emirates wins Monitor Airline of the Year award

Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has won Monitor Airline of the Year award for 2019 with the most number of trophies including five gold and four silver.

The Bangladesh Monitor, a travel and tourism publication of the country, has accorded the awards in an event held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka on January 31, said a press release.

Novoair, a private airline of Bangladesh, received the Domestic Airline of the Year award, while Qatar Airways won the Cargo Airline of the Year and Air Asia the Budget Airline of the Year. 

Besides, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier, won Gold in Best In-flight Meal in Economy Class, Best Improved Services categories and Bronze in Best Economy Class category.

The airlines operating in Bangladesh were awarded in a total of 16 categories. Of those, four categories were exclusively for Bangladeshi airlines.

Over 2,300 frequent flyers cast votes online in favour of their preferred airlines. The polling was held between October 13 and December 20 of 2019.

A high profile independent jury comprising representatives from various professional and social groups thoroughly analysed the polling data and selected the winners for Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies.

"The idea of conducting the poll is to judge service standards and assess popularity of the airlines, operating in Bangladesh and to create a healthy competition among themselves," said Kazi Wahidul Alam, editor of The Bangladesh Monitor.

Prof Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, dean of the business studies faculty of Dhaka University, who headed the jury panel, said Monitor Airline of the Year award programme will encourage the winning airlines to maintain their service standards.

"It would also greatly motivate other airlines to upgrade their standards. Thus, the award programme will play a pivotal role in bringing qualitative change in the airline industry of Bangladesh," Prof Shibli Rubayat, also chairman of state-owned Sadharan Bima Corporation.

The Bangladesh Monitor introduced the Airline of the Year awards in the country in 2007.