Rajshahi airport incurs huge loss
Monday, 29 September 2008
Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, Sept 28: Hazrat Shah Mukhdum Airport, the only airport in Rajshahi city, is incurring a huge loss after its closure one-and-a-half years ago.
Though government airplanes and helicopters make trips from time to time at this airport, it is counting a huge loss without the services of passenger aircraft. The airport officials told this correspondent that due to want of sufficient passengers, the flights of passenger airlines were closed.
The airport was inaugurated on October 01 in 1984 at Nawhata, 10 kilometre north from Rajshahi city. At first, the airport was opened for passenger airlines on Rajshahi-Dhaka-Rajshahi route. Within a few years, Rajshahi-Syedpur-Dhaka route was opened.
Rajshahi airport was renamed after Hazrat Shah Mukhdum (R) on July 21, 2003. The passenger airlines, which used this airport were Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Air Parabat and GMG Airlines.
Rajshahi airport used to realise a huge sum of tax from the airlines. Although a sufficient number of passengers travelled through the airliners at the beginning, the number decreased alarmingly in recent years.
Sources said, during the months before the closure of the service, the number of passengers dropped to only five to six per trip. At last on January 21, 2007, all airlines stopped flights on the routes.
Another source said, about 150 staff were working at the airport before the closure. Now, only 75 staff are working there. The rests were terminated.
Hazrat Shah Mukhdum Airport Manager Sherajul Islam said the airport is counting a huge loss every year. The only income of the airport is over flying charge. He said the airport was ready for reopening any time.
Due to services of luxury bus and air-conditioned intercity train on this route at reasonable fares, passengers are reluctant to use air routes at a high cost.
RAJSHAHI, Sept 28: Hazrat Shah Mukhdum Airport, the only airport in Rajshahi city, is incurring a huge loss after its closure one-and-a-half years ago.
Though government airplanes and helicopters make trips from time to time at this airport, it is counting a huge loss without the services of passenger aircraft. The airport officials told this correspondent that due to want of sufficient passengers, the flights of passenger airlines were closed.
The airport was inaugurated on October 01 in 1984 at Nawhata, 10 kilometre north from Rajshahi city. At first, the airport was opened for passenger airlines on Rajshahi-Dhaka-Rajshahi route. Within a few years, Rajshahi-Syedpur-Dhaka route was opened.
Rajshahi airport was renamed after Hazrat Shah Mukhdum (R) on July 21, 2003. The passenger airlines, which used this airport were Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Air Parabat and GMG Airlines.
Rajshahi airport used to realise a huge sum of tax from the airlines. Although a sufficient number of passengers travelled through the airliners at the beginning, the number decreased alarmingly in recent years.
Sources said, during the months before the closure of the service, the number of passengers dropped to only five to six per trip. At last on January 21, 2007, all airlines stopped flights on the routes.
Another source said, about 150 staff were working at the airport before the closure. Now, only 75 staff are working there. The rests were terminated.
Hazrat Shah Mukhdum Airport Manager Sherajul Islam said the airport is counting a huge loss every year. The only income of the airport is over flying charge. He said the airport was ready for reopening any time.
Due to services of luxury bus and air-conditioned intercity train on this route at reasonable fares, passengers are reluctant to use air routes at a high cost.