MAS in danger of losing 5-star status from Skytrax

(Business Times) - Skytrax’s website shows that Malaysia Airlines’ ranking is 'under review', which industry observers believe that this could point to a possible downgrade.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) could be in danger of losing its 5-Star Airline status from Skytrax, the world’s largest airline review site. Skytrax’s website shows that MAS’ ranking is “under review”.

Checks show that its status has been “under review” since October last year,dismissing doubts that it could be a periodical review.

Industry observers believe that this could point to a possible downgrade of its ranking. Skytrax’ 5-Star Airline ranking is the ultimate sign of quality approval and is awarded to airlines achieving the highest overall quality performance.

It recognises the high standards of airport and onboard products across assessment categories, combined with consistently high standards of staff service delivery in both the onboard and airport environments.

Skytrax’s other ranks are 4-Star, 3-Star, 2-Star, 1-Star and Unclassified Airlines. MAS has been a 5-Star ranked airline since 2005. Only five other airlines are ranked 5-Star – Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hainan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Kingfisher Airlines had its 5-Star ranking suspended recently.

Attempts to contact the Skytrax team were unsuccessful.

Queries sent to Malaysia Airlines were also not answered.

“A possible downgrade of MAS’ ranking (on Skytrax) is unlikely to affect its entry into the oneworld alliance, but it will probably be harder for MAS to get people to buy into its whole ‘premium’ concept should it happen,” said OSK Research analyst Ahmad Maghfur Usman.