Biman may suspend Dhaka-Delhi flights
Friday, 28 May 2010
Mashiur Rahaman
Passenger shortage is forcing the state-run Biman to consider suspending its recently resumed Dhaka-Delhi flights.
Despite offering a comparatively lower fare and suitable flight timings Biman failed to attract adequate passengers on this route to sustain the operation, Biman sources told the FE.
"While other airlines are enjoying good business on the same route, our aircraft are flying with hardly half of its capacity," a Biman officer within the flight planning department said.
Giving example of Biman's pitiful state on this particular route he said "two out of three flights during the last week left Dhaka for Delhi with less than 25 passengers on board."
We have advised the management to suspend the route operation or at least cut the frequency of flights in order to minimize operational loss; he said blaming failure of marketing and non-realistic flight planning for this poor condition.
Operating newly leased 189-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Biman resumed its operation on Dhaka-Delhi route after almost one year of suspension. The national airlines started with three flights per week but failed to obtain adequate passenger turnover.
Random flight cancellation mainly due to acute shortage of aircraft forced the state-run Biman to cut its Dhaka-Delhi operations in September 2009.
Biman's flight record revealed that it managed to secure only 30 per cent cabin factor on its way to Indian capital in April of this year and returned with an average 45 per cent. Similarly, half-monthly passenger record on the same route in May projected almost unchanged status.
While Biman is starving for passenger, Bangladeshi private airlines GMG and United Airways reported good business operating on the same route. Similarly, Indian operators namely Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher are also doing impressive business on this route, record revealed.
"This route has never been profitable for Biman," the country's aviation industry experts elaborated adding that management of the national flag carrier was forced to re-open the route as they had to fulfil the minimum flight operation time to justify its leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Moreover, insiders said that Biman 'unwisely' created 16 new posts within the last two months and appointed staffs accordingly in the loss-making Delhi office.
"Biman wanted to suspend the route operation a month ago but prevented by a certain pressure group to justify these new appointment," he claimed.
Passenger shortage is forcing the state-run Biman to consider suspending its recently resumed Dhaka-Delhi flights.
Despite offering a comparatively lower fare and suitable flight timings Biman failed to attract adequate passengers on this route to sustain the operation, Biman sources told the FE.
"While other airlines are enjoying good business on the same route, our aircraft are flying with hardly half of its capacity," a Biman officer within the flight planning department said.
Giving example of Biman's pitiful state on this particular route he said "two out of three flights during the last week left Dhaka for Delhi with less than 25 passengers on board."
We have advised the management to suspend the route operation or at least cut the frequency of flights in order to minimize operational loss; he said blaming failure of marketing and non-realistic flight planning for this poor condition.
Operating newly leased 189-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Biman resumed its operation on Dhaka-Delhi route after almost one year of suspension. The national airlines started with three flights per week but failed to obtain adequate passenger turnover.
Random flight cancellation mainly due to acute shortage of aircraft forced the state-run Biman to cut its Dhaka-Delhi operations in September 2009.
Biman's flight record revealed that it managed to secure only 30 per cent cabin factor on its way to Indian capital in April of this year and returned with an average 45 per cent. Similarly, half-monthly passenger record on the same route in May projected almost unchanged status.
While Biman is starving for passenger, Bangladeshi private airlines GMG and United Airways reported good business operating on the same route. Similarly, Indian operators namely Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher are also doing impressive business on this route, record revealed.
"This route has never been profitable for Biman," the country's aviation industry experts elaborated adding that management of the national flag carrier was forced to re-open the route as they had to fulfil the minimum flight operation time to justify its leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Moreover, insiders said that Biman 'unwisely' created 16 new posts within the last two months and appointed staffs accordingly in the loss-making Delhi office.
"Biman wanted to suspend the route operation a month ago but prevented by a certain pressure group to justify these new appointment," he claimed.