State-carrier Biman's domestic operation faced a big blow after its maiden flights were cancelled and delayed on what officials called 'technical' fault.
Airport and carrier officials said Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd's Dhaka-Syedpur flight was cancelled due to non-availability of operational aircraft, while the inaugural flights of Dhaka-Chittagong along with that of Dhaka-Sylhet were also delayed.
The inaugural Dhaka-Chittagong flight, which was scheduled to fly at seven in the morning, flew at 12:30 pm, said a Biman official of flight operations department.
The Dhaka-Syedpur flight, which was scheduled to fly at four in the evening, was declared cancelled.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the two leasehold Dash 8 Q400 Turboprops brought from Egypt for five years. The two 74 seater also were given names during the inauguration: Mayurponkhi and Meghdut.
The airport officials said the passengers of Mayurponkhi boarded delayed on the aircraft only to get down from that as the aircraft had technical problems. The engineers tried to repair the technical faults but they failed to make the aircraft fly.
An official in the operation wing Biman said a team of six engineers from Egypt accompanying the two aircraft and Biman engineers examined the technical fault and found the pneumatic bulb of the aircraft was out of order, compelling the Biman authority to cancel the initial flight.
Biman managing director Kyle Haywood told reporters the first flight from Dhaka to Chittagong was scheduled to depart at seven in the morning, but was delayed due to the late arrival of the aircraft from a 'standard' exercise training flight.
"Shortly after starting its taxi at 09:15 towards the runway, it was clear that the air conditioning in the aircraft was not cooling the cabin as effectively as it should. The pilot returned to the stand where it became clear, on inspection, that an air conditioning valve needed attention," he said.
He said the passengers returned to the terminal building and were later transferred to another aircraft and departed for Chittagong. Any passenger who wanted to refund or change their booking was assisted to do so, without charge, both in Dhaka and in Chittagong, the Biman boss added.
Biman, however, refunded fares to those who were interested to get their money back due to cancellation of the flight, a senior Biman official said.
The cancelled Dhaka-Syedpur flight has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, he said.
"Biman has offered one extra-ticket, free of cost, against each of the cancelled tickets for Monday's Dhaka-Syedpur route.
Biman's fliers, who purchased tickets for inaugural flights, were aggrieved with the cancellation and delays of the domestic flights, said sources.
The delay in arrival of the two designated 74-seater leased aircrafts from Smart Aviation of Egypt caused the cancellation and delay of Biman's domestic flights on the inaugural day Monday, he said. One of the two aircrafts was grounded due to technical fault, he said.
The official, however, said that the grounded aircraft would be ready for operating domestic flights from Tuesday.
The leased aircrafts reached the country Friday, four days after the expected date, and the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) provided all necessary approvals including registration, machine and equipment scrutiny, and air worthiness within the past three days, a senior CAAB official said.
Spelling out the reason of the delay in the arrival of new aircrafts, a Biman official said the aviation authority in Egypt delayed issuance of clearance to bring them in Bangladesh.
The Egyptian aviation authority delayed de-registration of the aircrafts in Egypt over a row regarding the mode of payment against leasing of the aircrafts.
Biman has announced operating six flights per week on the Dhaka-Chittagong route, five flights per week in Dhaka-Jessore route, three flights per week for each of Dhaka-Rajshahi and Dhaka-Barisal and two flights per week for Dhaka-Syedpur route.
The national flag carrier has planned to operate 25 flights per week on Dhaka to Chittagong and Sylhet routes.
Due to a shortage of aircrafts, Biman suspended operations of its four of the seven domestic routes in 2007. The last route--Dhaka-Cox's Bazar -- was closed in June 2012.
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Cancellation, delays mar Biman\\\'s domestic flights
FE Report | Published: April 07, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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