ZIA revenue zooms 61.8 pc on soaring flights, charges
A Z M Anas | Sunday, 8 March 2009
Revenues of the country's biggest airport ZIA jumped by 61.8 per cent to Tk 3.57 billion in 2008 financial year, boosted by increased flights movement, the airport regulator said Saturday.
The Civil Aviation Authority said ZIA's income from aeronautical operations rose 86.6 per cent or Tk 2.75 billion in fiscal year (2007-08), up from Tk 1.47 billion in fiscal 2007.
Aeronautical income involves flight-related charges such as landing and take-off fees, parking fees, and over-flight charges.
Officials said 46,619 aircraft moved in and out of Zia International Airport (ZIA), compared to about 40,000 a year earlier.
Non-aeronautical income, however, slightly climbed to Tk 85 million from Tk 73 million a year ago.
In fiscal 2006, ZIA earned Tk2.52 billion, according to CAAB figures.
Last year, a record 3.5 million passengers passed through ZIA, up from 3.45 million in 2007.
"There's still enough room for raising the airport's income. What we need is to persuade more foreign airlines to operate here," director of ZIA Saeedul Hasan Khan said.
He said: "ZIA can be developed as a competing hub in the region. If more airlines start passenger and cargo services, it will be a money spinner for the economy."
But that requires massive investments in airport infrastructure, he said, adding the existing runway, boarding bridge and other facilities must be upgraded to rival regional airports such as New Delhi, Bangkok and Singapore.
M Karmrul Islam, a director at CAAB, said ZIA's revenues can at least be boosted by five times over the next five years provided it is developed as a regional hub.
Aviation experts say improvement of ground-handling services is a must if ZIA want to woo more foreign carriers to start services in Bangladesh.
State-owned Biman is currently providing passenger and cargo-handling services at ZIA that remain below the standard, they said.
Revenues from over-flying flights rose by US$2.9 million to $22 million last year, driven by a steady rise in flights using Bangladesh airspace.
The civil aviation authority's income saw a rise of 15 per cent over a year ago as 84,785 flights flew over Bangladesh territory. In 2007, the country charged $19 million on over-flying flights.
Depending on the size of aircraft, the state-run CAA rakes in $200-$300 in fees from each flight, mostly cargo flights flying between Far-east and Europe and North America.
The country charged $18 million in 2006 on 67264 flights as against 74292 in 2007, flying mostly between Far-east and the western nations.
A total of 22 airlines including state carrier Biman operate to and from ZIA, making it the country's busiest air transport facility.
UAE's RAK Airways, however, ceased operation last December while British Airways would suspend flights to Dhaka this month, ending a 25-year-long business in Bangladesh.
But Emirates, the biggest Arab carrier, increased flights by three to 17 a week last month, banking on the increased passengers' movement.
Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia will also launch daily passenger flights to Kuala Lumpur next week.
The Civil Aviation Authority said ZIA's income from aeronautical operations rose 86.6 per cent or Tk 2.75 billion in fiscal year (2007-08), up from Tk 1.47 billion in fiscal 2007.
Aeronautical income involves flight-related charges such as landing and take-off fees, parking fees, and over-flight charges.
Officials said 46,619 aircraft moved in and out of Zia International Airport (ZIA), compared to about 40,000 a year earlier.
Non-aeronautical income, however, slightly climbed to Tk 85 million from Tk 73 million a year ago.
In fiscal 2006, ZIA earned Tk2.52 billion, according to CAAB figures.
Last year, a record 3.5 million passengers passed through ZIA, up from 3.45 million in 2007.
"There's still enough room for raising the airport's income. What we need is to persuade more foreign airlines to operate here," director of ZIA Saeedul Hasan Khan said.
He said: "ZIA can be developed as a competing hub in the region. If more airlines start passenger and cargo services, it will be a money spinner for the economy."
But that requires massive investments in airport infrastructure, he said, adding the existing runway, boarding bridge and other facilities must be upgraded to rival regional airports such as New Delhi, Bangkok and Singapore.
M Karmrul Islam, a director at CAAB, said ZIA's revenues can at least be boosted by five times over the next five years provided it is developed as a regional hub.
Aviation experts say improvement of ground-handling services is a must if ZIA want to woo more foreign carriers to start services in Bangladesh.
State-owned Biman is currently providing passenger and cargo-handling services at ZIA that remain below the standard, they said.
Revenues from over-flying flights rose by US$2.9 million to $22 million last year, driven by a steady rise in flights using Bangladesh airspace.
The civil aviation authority's income saw a rise of 15 per cent over a year ago as 84,785 flights flew over Bangladesh territory. In 2007, the country charged $19 million on over-flying flights.
Depending on the size of aircraft, the state-run CAA rakes in $200-$300 in fees from each flight, mostly cargo flights flying between Far-east and Europe and North America.
The country charged $18 million in 2006 on 67264 flights as against 74292 in 2007, flying mostly between Far-east and the western nations.
A total of 22 airlines including state carrier Biman operate to and from ZIA, making it the country's busiest air transport facility.
UAE's RAK Airways, however, ceased operation last December while British Airways would suspend flights to Dhaka this month, ending a 25-year-long business in Bangladesh.
But Emirates, the biggest Arab carrier, increased flights by three to 17 a week last month, banking on the increased passengers' movement.
Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia will also launch daily passenger flights to Kuala Lumpur next week.