DHAKA, June 4, 2020 (BSS) – Biman Bangladesh Airlines today offered
chartered domestic flight services until restoring of regular flight
operation to reduce its huge losses due to more than two months of
flight suspension containing outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
“Basically, we have taken the decision to reduce our losses …
anyone can charter Biman Dash aircraft for domestic routes from
tomorrow for family trips, at a cost of Taka 3 to Tk 5 lakh depending
on the distance,” Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary M Mohibul Haque
told BSS this evening.
The senior secretary said the national flag carrier has decided to
offer the charter flight service till restoration of full-pledged
regular flight operation as one of its two Dash aircrafts has been
kept idle even after resumption of domestic flight operation in
limited scale from June 1.
Initially, the charter flight service is offered on Dhaka from and
to Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur, he said adding that it would be
available to other four domestic destinations – Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi,
Jessore and Barishal – whenever those airports are prepared to operate
as per health guideline of the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh
(CAAB).
The national flag carrier so far incurred nearly Taka 1,000 crore in
four months from February to May due to outbreak of the coronavirus.
To reduce its losses due to flight suspension, Haque said Biman is
also operating cargo flights to different countries through its
passenger aircraft.
The civil aviation secretary said Biman has earned Taka 40 crore of
revenue through cargo flights and operating chartered flights on
several international routes in last two months even amid regular
flight suspension.
This is the first time in Biman’s history that the national flag
carrier has offered chartered flights on domestic routes, sources in
Biman said.
Anyone will be able charter Biman’s aircraft for a roundtrip with
five-hour ground time from Dhaka to domestic destination, Biman’s
spokesperson Tahera Khandaker said.
“After five hours of ground time, additional charges will have to be
paid,” said Kandace, deputy general manager (public relations) of the
national carrier.
Bangladesh resumed its domestic flight operation on June 1 on three
internal routes on Dhaka from and to Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur
more than a two-month suspension for containing outbreak of COVID-19
pandemic.
But, Biman had forced to cancel its all scheduled domestic flight
till June 6 after operating only one flight on the first day of flight
resumption due to lack of passengers.
However, the other two private carriers– US-Bangla Airlines and
Novoair – are operating domestic flights on the three destinations
from Dhaka with on average 70 to 80 percent passengers after keeping
30 percent of seats vacant for maintaining social distance as per
health guideline prescribed by the CAAB.