Foreign carriers yet to start regular direct flights to Sylhet

SYLHET, May 27: 'Fly Dubai' and 'Air Arabia' are yet to start operating their direct flights to Sylhet Osmani International Airport as the complexity over ground service arrangement with the Biman couldn't be resolved.

The first flight of 'Fly Dubai' with 132 passengers from Dubai landed at Osmani Airport on April 1 this year and returned with 164 on board. But, then they had to suspend their flights, raising commotion among the passengers. A good number of passengers on the following day had to return disappointed due to the sudden suspension of flight.

In the same way the Air Arabia's first flight, which was scheduled that day also didn't operate.

The officials also couldn't ascertain when the stalemate would be resolved, whereas the inhabitants of greater Sylhet had been pressing for operation of regular direct flights between Sylhet and the overseas destinations for long.

With the establishment of refueling facilities at Osmani International Airport, operation of flights with the overseas destinations would now be possible, CAAB sources informed. The refueling project was completed by the state-run Padma Oil months ago to facilitate the direct flight operation, informed the manager of CAAB at Osmani Airport Abdul Hafiz Ahmed.

'Fly Dubai' Sylhet office manager Sirajul Islam told this correspondent that discussion is on with Biman for ground service. Hopefully, it would be resolved very soon, he added. "We are ready to operate 5 flights a week to and from Sylhet."    

Director of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Khondaker Shiper Ahmed, also owner of Shipar Air Service told this correspondent people are annoyed with the delay in the process of allowing direct flights from Sylhet with the overseas destinations.