Biman\\\'s domestic flights resumption uncertain

Uncertainty looms large over resumption of domestic flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines shortly as the national flag carrier is yet to acquire smaller aircraft.
After refusal of the request for proposal (RFP) for four times, the Biman authorities floated the proposal again last week to take two 45-80 seated Turbo-prop aircraft on lease, a top official of the airlines told the FE Sunday.
He said the Biman is missing the domestic market despite having enormous prospects as it is getting difficult to procure the aircraft on lease.
"Since we have to follow various government regulations, it is tough for us to go for direct negotiation or through other process. That is why, we are yet to finalise any lease," he said.
The Biman official said if they can manage to take the suitable aircraft on lease, the domestic flights would be resumed by coming October.
Earlier, the Biman authorities announced about restarting the domestic flights from November last, and later it was shifted to March. The authorities missed two dates due to their 'inability to acquire smaller aircraft'.
Former Biman Managing Director Kevin Steele included the domestic flight resumption in his planning and announced several datelines. But, finally he expressed his disappointment to the FE.   
According to the latest RFP, Biman is looking for hiring two Turbo-prop aircraft on five years' dry lease or lease-purchase basis. Airlines, operators, owners of aircraft, manufacturers, leasing companies having aircraft of their own or legally authorised agents may participate in the bid.
The aircraft should not be over 10 years' old, and should be certified by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the USA, and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).    
The interested bidders can submit their proposals by July 14 next and no proposal would be accepted after the stipulated time, the RFP said.
The national flag carrier suspended its domestic flights on four among the seven routes in 2007 due to continuous losses and shortage of aircraft. Finally, on September 19, 2012, Biman postponed its flights on those three routes in order to maintain international schedules.
Later, it resumed domestic flights on a limited number of routes including Dhaka-Chittagong-Dhaka and Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka.
Biman is now operating about 30 flights in a week on its domestic routes with large aircraft through its connecting flights in operation on international routes.
The domestic passengers are travelling by modern and spacious aircraft of the national carrier as they board the international connecting flights operating from Dhaka to Middle East via Chittagong, and to Middle East and Europe via Sylhet, Biman sources said.
Biman now operates 11 flights on Dhaka-Chittagong, 14 flights on Chittagong-Dhaka and 5-7 flights on Sylhet-Dhaka routes weekly.
About Biman's plan for resuming the domestic flights, Biman's former MD said: "We will operate morning and evening flights to Sylhet and Chittagong, daily flights to Cox's Bazar, and several flights per week to Jessore, Saidpur, Rajshahi and Barisal."
Besides Biman, three private carriers -- United Airways, Regent Airways and Novo Air -- are also operating flights on the country's domestic routes.