E-Paper
India's IndiGo, ranked among ‘world's worst airlines’ in survey, reacts sharply | Top 10 carriers
The analysis ranking IndiGo among “worst airlines” covers January to October, evaluating on-time performance, claims processing, and passenger feedback.
IndiGo has been ranked among the “world's worst airlines” in the 2024 AirHelp Score report, securing 103rd place out of 109 with a score of 4.80. The low rating is attributed to underwhelming customer satisfaction and poor handling of flight disruption claims. Responding to the ranking, IndiGo criticised the methodology, saying the survey does not disclose the sample size from India, “casting doubt on the survey's credibility.”
Conducted by AirHelp, an EU-based claim processing agency, the survey evaluates airlines globally on punctuality, quality of service, and handling of compensation claims. These criteria, weighed equally, form the overall score. The analysis covers data from January to October, incorporating on-time performance, customer claims processing, and feedback from passengers across 54 countries on food, comfort, and service.
Bloomberg quoted AirHelp CEO Tomasz Pawliszyn, who explained that the rankings aim to “encourage airlines to continuously listen to passenger feedback,” providing a snapshot of airline performance. Brussels Airlines topped the list with a score of 8.12, followed by Qatar Airways (8.11) and United Airlines (8.04). Air India, the only other Indian airline ranked, placed 61st with a score of 6.15.
Tunisair ranked last, placing 109th, as the report highlighted the highs and lows of air travel this year.
IndiGo's response
IndiGo on Wednesday refuted the survey that ranked it among the world’s worst airlines, saying it has consistently performed well in terms of punctuality. The airline claimed the survey for its methodology and lack of transparency.
In its statement, IndiGo pointed out that the survey did not disclose the sample size from India or consider the methodology and compensation guidelines followed by the global aviation industry, “casting a doubt on its credibility”.
The airline emphasised its strong track record, noting that it consistently scores high on punctuality and has the lowest customer complaint ratio among airlines of similar size and operational scale.
"As India's most preferred airline, IndiGo refutes the findings of this survey and reiterates its promise of on-time, affordable, courteous and hassle-free travel experience for its customers," the statement concluded.
Top 10 airlines in the world
- Brussels Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Play (Iceland)
- Austrian Airlines
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Air Arabia
- Widerøe
- Air Serbia
Bottom 10 airlines in the world
100. Sky Express
101. Air Mauritius
102. Tarom
103. IndiGo
104. Pegasus Airlines
105. El Al Israel Airlines
106. Bulgaria Air
107. Nouvelair
108. Buzz
109. Tunisair
(With inputs from agencies)
