All set to operate Biman's hajj flights from Oct 20
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Mashiur Rahaman
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is all set to ferry Hajj pilgrims swiftly to the holy land this year, according to the managing director and CEO of Biman Air Commodore (Retd) Zakiul Islam.
"We are right on track," he told the FE on Sunday
The leasing process of two Boeing 747 aircraft for the hajj operation has been completed. Other related formalities are underway and likely to be completed well before the deadline.
Biman, the national flag carrier, aims to carry more than half the country's pilgrims in the two newly leased 747 aircraft and scheduled DC-10-30 Dhaka-Jeddah flights.
"We all are looking forward for a safe and comfortable hajj flights for our pilgrims this year as well," Mr Islam added.
Biman's board of directors on Saturday finalised the leasing process of two 747 aircraft from the Bangkok-based Orient Thai Airlines and Kabo Air of Kenya for the hajj operation for three months.
"These two private airliners were used for ferrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia last year, too," a Biman official said.
Biman has reached an agreement to operate the Orient Thai's 518 seated aircraft against payment of $7800 per block hour. The other aircraft from Kabo Air with 542 seats has been hired for $8090 per block hour, the official added.
About 54,000 Bangladeshi Muslims have registered to perform this year's sacred religious ritual, the Hajj, of them Biman plans to carry 37,000 passengers.
"We are confident of executing a smooth hajj operation this year," Abdul Mamdud Khan, general manager of flight operations (central control) told the FE.
Biman will assist the two leased aircraft to obtain clearance from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Jeddah for operation of Hajj flights. The authority (Biman) is also working to secure suitable landing slots at Jeddah airport during the hajj, he added.
"Beside the special hajj flights, three other routine DC-10-30 flights from Dhaka to Jeddah will also carry on the operation as a back-up," Mr Mamdud added.
Official from Biman's Sales and Marketing department, however, informed that they have reached an agreement with the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) to minimise the capacity loss that Biman faces every year.
"Hajj agents have agreed to coordinate with us to ensure that all hajj flights would take off with full passenger capacity," he told the FE.
Earlier, Biman authority had fixed the hajj fare at $1350 per person this year. The hajj flight will commence on October 20, 2009 and the last return flight will reach Dhaka on January 04, 2010 as per schedule.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is all set to ferry Hajj pilgrims swiftly to the holy land this year, according to the managing director and CEO of Biman Air Commodore (Retd) Zakiul Islam.
"We are right on track," he told the FE on Sunday
The leasing process of two Boeing 747 aircraft for the hajj operation has been completed. Other related formalities are underway and likely to be completed well before the deadline.
Biman, the national flag carrier, aims to carry more than half the country's pilgrims in the two newly leased 747 aircraft and scheduled DC-10-30 Dhaka-Jeddah flights.
"We all are looking forward for a safe and comfortable hajj flights for our pilgrims this year as well," Mr Islam added.
Biman's board of directors on Saturday finalised the leasing process of two 747 aircraft from the Bangkok-based Orient Thai Airlines and Kabo Air of Kenya for the hajj operation for three months.
"These two private airliners were used for ferrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia last year, too," a Biman official said.
Biman has reached an agreement to operate the Orient Thai's 518 seated aircraft against payment of $7800 per block hour. The other aircraft from Kabo Air with 542 seats has been hired for $8090 per block hour, the official added.
About 54,000 Bangladeshi Muslims have registered to perform this year's sacred religious ritual, the Hajj, of them Biman plans to carry 37,000 passengers.
"We are confident of executing a smooth hajj operation this year," Abdul Mamdud Khan, general manager of flight operations (central control) told the FE.
Biman will assist the two leased aircraft to obtain clearance from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Jeddah for operation of Hajj flights. The authority (Biman) is also working to secure suitable landing slots at Jeddah airport during the hajj, he added.
"Beside the special hajj flights, three other routine DC-10-30 flights from Dhaka to Jeddah will also carry on the operation as a back-up," Mr Mamdud added.
Official from Biman's Sales and Marketing department, however, informed that they have reached an agreement with the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) to minimise the capacity loss that Biman faces every year.
"Hajj agents have agreed to coordinate with us to ensure that all hajj flights would take off with full passenger capacity," he told the FE.
Earlier, Biman authority had fixed the hajj fare at $1350 per person this year. The hajj flight will commence on October 20, 2009 and the last return flight will reach Dhaka on January 04, 2010 as per schedule.