Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) will not allow Saudi Arabian Airlines to operate scheduled passenger flight to Dhaka if the Saudi authority does not permit Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate its flight to Saudi Arabia.
Many media reported that CAAB has already cancelled permission for Saudia's flight operation to Dhaka which is scheduled to resume from 23 September.
Talking to the FE, CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said there is a confusion over the cancellation of flight operation of Saudi Arabian Airlines to Dhaka. It's not true.
"Saudi Arabian Airlines sought permission to operate scheduled passenger flight to Dhaka. We gave them permission. We heard Saudi authority has given Biman permission to operate its flight to Saudi Arabia on condition and Bangladeshis will be allowed too," said Mr Mafidur.
On 17 September Biman informed that Saudi Arabia will not allow Biman Airlines to operate flights to Saudi Arabia until December this year, he added.
"We are trying to get right information on the decision taken by the Saudi authority. If this information is correct, we will also cancel permission for flight operation of Saudia," the CAAB chairman confirmed.
Earlier, Saudi Arabian Airlines sought permission to operate scheduled passenger flights to Dhaka and CAAB approved weekly two flights. Biman also sought permission from Saudi Arabia to operate flights to three destinations in Saudi Arabia. But Saudi Arabia did not permit Biman.
Biman used to operate flights to four destinations in Saudi Arabia, said Tahera Khandker, deputy general manager (public relations) of Biman. There were seven flights to Jeddah, six flights to Riyadh, five flights to Dammam and four flights to Medinah, she added.
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