Biman plans changes for poor performing Dhaka-Delhi route
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Mashiur Rahaman
State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines, hit by poor passengers on its Dhaka-Delhi-Dhaka route, is going to increase flight frequency and change timing to compete with private operators, Biman official said.
Biman has been flying on this regional route with lesser number of passengers than its capacity since it resumed operation on February 15, turning it as the worst performing international route at present.
"As per Biman's desperate effort to increase the number of passengers on this route, Biman is going to increase flight frequency from three to four times a week from April 16," one official of the Biman's planning department told the FE.
Besides, Biman authorities will make a strategic change in timing to connect its Dhaka-Bangkok bound flights with the one returning from Delhi to get Indian passengers bound for Thailand, the official confirmed.
According to Biman's official flight performance record of last one month, the state airline's Bangkok flights are carrying greater number of passengers as well as cargo since it resumed the operation on February 17 of this year.
"Connecting Delhi-returned flights with the one bound for Bangkok from Dhaka is expected to gain significant response from Bangladeshi passengers as well as Indians leaving for Thai capital," he added.
Biman's official data shows that the national flag carrier has been facing severe passenger crisis on the Dhaka-Delhi route since it resumed operation on February 15 this year. Operating three return flights per week with the leased 190-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Biman failed to meet even an average 30 per cent cabin factor (number of passenger against total capacity) during the one and half months.
"It has become the worst performing route for Biman at present thus incurring losses in its every trip," Biman official said.
Despite Biman's offer of comparatively lower air-fair than other operators, the national flag carrier has failed to attract passengers, experts in the aviation industry said blaming poor marketing strategy as well as unfavorable flight timings as the cause of the poor performance.
Biman now operates on the Dhaka-Delhi route thrice-a-week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, connecting Dhaka with the Indian capital, which was suspended during the last winter schedule for passenger shortage.
As part of the government's initiative to strengthen connectivity with all major regional cities, the airlines authority decided to resume operation on the Dhaka-Delhi route flying with the newly leased aircraft from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) of the USA.
The performance was never impressive on this particular route, Biman official commented referring to the first week's of performance on Dhaka-Delhi route. During the first week, cabin factor on this route was recorded at only 14.7 per cent and 17.7 per cent was on its return flight, he explained.
This compares with 16.8 per cent on the way to Delhi while 31.7 per cent from Delhi to Dhaka after one month of operation, the Biman official added.
Bangladeshi private airlines GMG Airlines and Indian private operator - Jet Airways - operate three flights per week each to Delhi. Despite charging higher fair than Biman, they are reportedly doing good business; industry insiders said.
State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines, hit by poor passengers on its Dhaka-Delhi-Dhaka route, is going to increase flight frequency and change timing to compete with private operators, Biman official said.
Biman has been flying on this regional route with lesser number of passengers than its capacity since it resumed operation on February 15, turning it as the worst performing international route at present.
"As per Biman's desperate effort to increase the number of passengers on this route, Biman is going to increase flight frequency from three to four times a week from April 16," one official of the Biman's planning department told the FE.
Besides, Biman authorities will make a strategic change in timing to connect its Dhaka-Bangkok bound flights with the one returning from Delhi to get Indian passengers bound for Thailand, the official confirmed.
According to Biman's official flight performance record of last one month, the state airline's Bangkok flights are carrying greater number of passengers as well as cargo since it resumed the operation on February 17 of this year.
"Connecting Delhi-returned flights with the one bound for Bangkok from Dhaka is expected to gain significant response from Bangladeshi passengers as well as Indians leaving for Thai capital," he added.
Biman's official data shows that the national flag carrier has been facing severe passenger crisis on the Dhaka-Delhi route since it resumed operation on February 15 this year. Operating three return flights per week with the leased 190-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Biman failed to meet even an average 30 per cent cabin factor (number of passenger against total capacity) during the one and half months.
"It has become the worst performing route for Biman at present thus incurring losses in its every trip," Biman official said.
Despite Biman's offer of comparatively lower air-fair than other operators, the national flag carrier has failed to attract passengers, experts in the aviation industry said blaming poor marketing strategy as well as unfavorable flight timings as the cause of the poor performance.
Biman now operates on the Dhaka-Delhi route thrice-a-week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, connecting Dhaka with the Indian capital, which was suspended during the last winter schedule for passenger shortage.
As part of the government's initiative to strengthen connectivity with all major regional cities, the airlines authority decided to resume operation on the Dhaka-Delhi route flying with the newly leased aircraft from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) of the USA.
The performance was never impressive on this particular route, Biman official commented referring to the first week's of performance on Dhaka-Delhi route. During the first week, cabin factor on this route was recorded at only 14.7 per cent and 17.7 per cent was on its return flight, he explained.
This compares with 16.8 per cent on the way to Delhi while 31.7 per cent from Delhi to Dhaka after one month of operation, the Biman official added.
Bangladeshi private airlines GMG Airlines and Indian private operator - Jet Airways - operate three flights per week each to Delhi. Despite charging higher fair than Biman, they are reportedly doing good business; industry insiders said.