Biman's low airfare behind success on Dhaka-London route

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Mashiur Rahaman
The state-run Biman's recently introduced flights with newly leased Boeing 777-200ER aircraft enjoyed enormous success in the first month of operation on Dhaka-London route but suffered from shortage of passenger on Dhaka-Singapore route.
Experts related to the country's aviation industry claimed 'low air-fare' behind the success on Dhaka-London route while blamed faulty marketing policy and inadequate publicity for the poor performance on Singapore route.
According to flight data, the Biman operated 16 direct flights between February 6 and March 14 on Dhaka-London-Dhaka route with the newly acquired Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Passenger factor was 96 per cent on Dhaka-London route while it was 82 per cent on its return leg.
"We are receiving good passenger response on the Dhaka-London route and expecting to generate profit," Biman's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Air Commodore (Retd) Muhammed Zakiul Islam told the FE.
Comparatively lower air-fare along with comfortable timing and non-stop flights on this particular route attracted Bangladeshi passengers who reside in UK, he elaborated.
Decorated with new brand name and logo, the national flag carrier operates four return flights per week between Dhaka and London.
"Ground is not such fertile for Biman on Dhaka-Singapore route," official within the Biman told the FE.
Biman operates weekly four return flights between Dhaka and Singapore but suffered from poor passenger response despite offering comparatively lower air-fare and suitable travel timings.
Between February 8 and March 10, Biman operated 11 flights on the Dhaka-Singapore route with the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft but its passenger factor was only 55 per cent.
The return flights from Singapore recorded a 67 per cent passenger factor during the period, according to Biman's flight record.
Singapore is the second home for nearly 0.3 million Bangladesh nationals who went to the port city in search of job. During the year 2009 alone, about 40 thousand Bangladeshi workers found jobs in the country. Besides expatriate job seekers, a great number of Bangladeshi tourists, business travelers and Nepalese transit passengers' prefer Biman because of its flight timing and lower ticket price.