‘Biman to carry half the pilgrims while Saudi Airlines the rest’
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has decided to carry hajj pilgrims this year with its own aircraft without taking any wide-bodied aircraft on lease as in previous years.
“Yes, we’ve decided to carry hajj pilgrims by our own aircraft,” acting Director (Planning) of Biman Md Belayet Hossain told UNB over telephone on Wednesday.
A total of 102,000 people will perform hajj from Bangladesh this year. Of them, 10,000 will perform hajj under government management while the rest under private management.
Biman will carry half the total pilgrims while the rest by Saudi Airlines. “Each year Bangladesh sign agreement with the Saudi Arabian government in this regard,” Belayet Hossain said.
Asked whether Biman has the capacity to handle huge hajj pilgrims this year with its existing capacity, the Biman official said, “Of course, we’ve. If not, why should we taken such a decision?”
Currently, Biman has four 777-300ERs aircraft with 419 seat capacity each, two 737-800s aircraft with 162 seat capacity each, two 319 seat capacity each 777-200ER (one will be added on May 4) aircraft and two A310-300s aircraft, one has 221 seat capacity while the other has 223 seat capacity, in its fleet.
The two 777-200ER aircraft were taken on lease from Egypt Air Holding Company.
Recently, Biman received new Boeing 777-300 extended range, ‘Raanga Pravat’. Raanga Pravat is the fourth B777 to join the national carrier’s fleet as part of the government’s 2008 deal for 10 new aircraft with Boeing.
On March 27, Biman floated a tender on its website to take on lease a wide-bodied aircraft for carrying the hajj pilgrims. The last date for submission of the tender was on April 20.
According to the Biman sources, only two bidders submitted their papers against the tender. Biman authorities, however, are unlikely to accept the proposals this time due to their new decision.
As the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has decided not to assign any third carrier except Biman Bangladesh Airlies and Saudi Arabian Airlines to carry hajj pilgrims, the High Court gave a direction to allow a third carrier for carrying the hajj pilgrims.
The Ministry also turned down a Saudi proposal put forward by Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Dhaka Abdullah bin Nasser Al Basiri to allow National Air Services (NAS) Air for carrying hajj pilgrims.
Ministry sources said that they rejected the Saudi proposal as it is an inefficient and irresponsible airlines agency and there are lots of allegations against the agency.
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the NAS Air had carried pilgrims in 2011 and 2012. However, the pilgrims had to face much trouble for its poor service. So, the ministry decided not to assign the airlines for carrying hajj pilgrims.
Source: UNB Connect
